by Keith Hunt

A teenage drug dealer has started a life sentence for the brutal murder of Canterbury father Luke Brocklebank.

Ikikibiya Manuel (pictured left) was told he will serve a minimum of 12 years before being considered for parole.

Judge Jeremy Carey said the 19-year-old, of Camberwell, south east London, had deliberately armed himself and stabbed Luke, 26, no fewer than six times in a frenzied attack.

The judge said he accepted Manuel's intention was not to kill but to cause really serious harm.

"Those who carry knives and use them to cause grievous bodily harm, which results in death, will be dealt with most severely by the courts," he added.

The jury of six men and six women returned a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for just over three hours on Tuesday afternoon.

There were shouts of "Yes" and applause. Luke's father Barrie Brocklebank leapt to his feet and shouted: "Justice."

Luke (pictured right) was attacked in a grassy alleyway off Forrester Close behind Sturry Road in Canterbury on April 16.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he had earlier told his friend Klaus Wilks, 26, he had no money and intended to rob the drug runner of heroin.

After the attack, Luke was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London by the Kent Air Ambulance but died soon afterwards.

Michael Borrelli QC, defending, said Manuel had never before been in trouble with the police.

Mr Borrelli told the judge he could not ignore Luke's expressed intention to go and rob a drug dealer.

"He accepts the knife he had was unwisely taken out of the house with him," he added.

For more reaction, pick up a copy of this week's Kentish Gazette, out Thursday.