Donovan Allen: Skull-mask knifeman jailed for at least 23 years for murdering Enfield teenager

A man who was wearing a skull face mask when he stabbed a teenager at a block of flats has been jailed for a minimum term of 23 years for murder.

Timothy Adeoye, 20, of no fixed address, attacked 17-year-old Donavan Allen in Enfield, north London, on February 7 2022.

Officers attended along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service [LAS] and found Donavan who had been stabbed in the chest.

Despite the best efforts of members of the public and the emergency services, he sadly died at the scene.

A post-mortem examination found that Donavan had died from a single stab wound to the chest.

A police investigation found that on the day of the murder, three males were at a flat in Ayley Croft waiting for their friend to arrive.

Instead, the defendant, Adeoye arrived. In order to gain entry to the flat, Adeoye produced a knife and entered the property.

As Donavan and his friend entered the building and headed toward the flat, Adeoye approached them, wearing a balaclava with a skeleton face on it.

He pulled out a knife and told them to empty their pockets. At this point, a neighbour in the communal area shouted at the group to leave or they would call the police. Adeoye threatened this neighbour with a knife.

Donavan and his friend turned to leave, but Adeoye followed them. He then stabbed Donavan in the chest causing the injury that claimed his life.

Police uncovered that Adeoye travelled to Paddington train station after the murder, where he took a train to Bristol, and then went on to an address at Fore Street, Trowbridge where he was eventually arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday, February 10 2022.

On February 12 2022, he was charged with the murder of Donavan Allen, three counts of attempted robbery, possession of an offensive weapon and threatening a person with a knife/blade in a public place.

He was remanded in custody throughout proceedings.

Adeyoe refused to attend the Old Bailey hearing on Monday (September 4) and was given a life sentence in his absence.

Det Ch Insp Linda Bradley, investigating, said: “Adeoye is a dangerous individual. He has not taken responsibility for his actions, however he will now have time to reflect on their consequences. Of course there is no court outcome that could return Donavan to his family and the thoughts of myself and my team are very much with them today.”

Donavan’s mother said: “Donavan was polite, kind, funny and talented and he was taken from us for no reason at all. There are no words to describe the loss. If I lost a husband I’d be a widow, and a child that loses their parents is an orphan . . .but for a sister who has lost her brother and a mother that has lost her only son, there are no words”