BBC NEWS | UK | England | London | Shakilus father spared jail term

The father of murdered 16-year-old Shakilus Townsend has been spared a prison sentence after admitting possessing crack cocaine.

Derek Townsend, 47, pleaded guilty to having 11 wraps of crack, but was found not guilty of intending to supply them.

The Old Bailey judge Ann Goddard spared him jail telling the defendant, "you have turned your life around."

Townsend, of south London, who was arrested in May 2008, got a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years.

'Unspeakable tragedy'

The defendant, of Herne Hill, was arrested months before Shakilus, 16, was lured to his death in July 2008 in a honeytrap by 15-year-old Samantha Joseph.

Joseph was given a life sentence along with six other teenagers.

The court heard Townsend had turned his life around after his son's death and had beaten his addiction.

Sentencing, the judge said: "You have suffered the unspeakable tragedy of the loss of your son and that has affected your whole life.

"If you have turned your life around then everyone is better off."

Townsend was also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and attend 10 employment and training sessions.

Sometimes ...it takes the worst kind of tradegy to inspire change in an individual...shame it had to take the life of his son!!!