A drug dealer convicted of murdering a Suffolk man who died after he was stabbed to “teach him a lesson” has been jailed for 18 years.

Ipswich Star: Posters asking for the public's help during the Dean Stansby murder investigation.Posters asking for the public's help during the Dean Stansby murder investigation. (Image: Archant)

Sentencing Amiadul Islam today ( Tuesday) Judge Martyn Levett said if he hadn’t ordered that 41-year-old Dean Stansby should be “sorted out” the fatal attack wouldn’t have happened.

Last month Islam’s three co-defendants Tecwyn Parker, Daniel Kaganda and Jason Ruby were jailed for a total of 58 years.

Sentencing them at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge Levett said Mr Stansby, from Trimley St Mary, had been “ambushed” and attacked on the evening of his death to teach him a lesson because he had previously stolen drugs from the “AJ and Sky” supply ring.

Parker, 48, of Downside Close, Ipswich; Kaganda, 24, of north London; Islam, 25, of east London and Ruby, 45, of no fixed address, had all denied murdering Mr Stansby on February 8 last year and were convicted after a trial.

Parker, Kaganda and Ruby were all given mandatory life sentences of which Parker will have to serve a minimum of 22 years before he can be considered for release and Kaganda and Ruby will each have to serve a minimum of 18 years.

Islam was told he would also have to serve a minimum of 18 years of his mandatory life sentence.

Mr Stansby was stabbed in Ancaster Road, Ipswich after coming into the town to buy drugs from the “AJ and Sky” ring.

He died as the result of a stab wound to the abdomen.

The court heard that Islam was an organiser for the “AJ and Sky” ring in London while Parker and Ruby were local users hired to deal drugs provided by Kaganda who controlled the drugs and received cash from their sale.

On February 8 Parker was sent to deal drugs to Mr Stansby, who had a reputation for robbing drug dealers, and had returned to a flat in Gippeswyk Road where Kaganda and Ruby were located, after recognising him.

A series of phone calls had then taken place with Islam in London before Kaganda, Parker and Ruby went back to confront Mr Stansby, who was then fatally stabbed.

Michael Bromley-Martin QC, for Islam, claimed his client had passed on the instruction from someone higher up in the chain that Mr Stansby should be caused grievous bodily harm.