Shakilus father's drug admission

Shakilus was repeatedly stabbed in south London

The father of murdered teenager Shakilus Townsend has admitted 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 heard.

Townsend, of Herne Hill, south London, had been arrested in May 2008 just months before his son's killing.

Shakilus, 16, was lured to his death in July 2008 in a honeytrap by 15-year-old Samantha Joseph.

She and six youths were given life sentences with minimum terms of between 10 and 15 years last month.

The Old Bailey had been told Derek Townsend was sitting in a silver Nissan car in Walworth Road, south London, when a policeman questioned him.

The drugs were found in a black plastic bag stuffed up his sleeve.

He no longer takes class A drugs and is very focused on his family Madeline Wolfe, defending

He told the court he was an addict at the time and would have smoked all the crack himself.

Madeline Wolfe, defending, said: "There have been some extraordinary events in his life in the last year.

"His son Shakilus was murdered only a month or so after his arrest.

"Mr Townsend has totally revisited his life in terms of taking drugs.

"He no longer takes class A drugs and is very focused on his family, who are still suffering the effects of the tragedy.

"He is still finding life difficult and will shortly be going into counselling."

Recorder Anesta Weekes remanded Townsend on bail until 18 November for pre-sentence reports.