Six members of a teenage knife gang who murdered a schoolboy were branded arrogant cowards by a judge yesterday as he jailed them for life.

Shaquille Smith, 14, the youngest of 22 teenagers stabbed to death in London last year, was attacked by London Fields Boys gang members. The group rode bicycles around Hackney, East London, in hoodies harassing anyone who crossed their path. Shaquille was targeted simply because they wanted to attack someone.

They came across the promising student, his sister and a friend in a park just before midnight, with a witness telling the Old Bailey that they swept into the area “like a wild pack of dogs”.

Some chased Shaquille’s friend, threatening him with a knife as he fled for his life. Others attacked his sister, slashing her across the face. Shaquille, a “kind, caring and considerate” boy with no links to gangs, was punched, kicked and stabbed in the stomach.

Godiowe Dufeal, 20, George Amponsah, 19, Amisi Khama, 18, Leon “Little” Atwell, 17, Kadeen “Hidz” Dias, 17, and Freddie “Chips” Amponsah, 17, were identified from closed-circuit television images of them roaming the streets before the murder last August. George Amponsah and Dufeal were given 18 years’ custody. The others received 15-year minimum terms. Judge David Paget, QC, told them: “Shaquille Smith was truly innocent. One of you stabbed him fatally and you ran away like the cowards you are back to London Fields.

“You have taken away the life of a promising young boy and have thrown away the chances of achieving anything in your own young lives.”

Dufeal was on licence after convictions for possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition without a certificate. He also had convictions for possessing knives, disorderly behaviour and assaulting a police officer.

George Amponsah had previous convictions for affray, threatening behaviour, possession of an offensive weapon in public, possession of cannabis and common assault.

Shaquille’s mother, Sandra Maitland, who had allowed him to go out that night because he had been good all week, said: “Every day since Shaq’s death, myself, his father, his siblings, extended family and friends feel lost, bewildered and tearful, hoping it is a bad dream. Why would someone as innocent as Shaquille become a target for someone to wilfully inflict pain on him when he was not being confrontational or making any trouble? Only the person who inflicted that injury can answer that question.”

She said that her son was on the verge of growing up. “Shaq loved to give you sloppy kisses or just cuddle up with you. He was polite and respectful to both elders and young adults in any situation.”

She has visited young offenders in prison to speak to them about the effects of knife crime. “I think everybody can change,” she said. “People make mistakes, but it’s how you use those mistakes.”

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