THREE drug dealers yesterday began life behind bars for the ruthless killing of student Luke Campbell.

After three days of deliberations, a jury unanimously found Larbi Mohamed, Saeed Alkadir and Delaine Brown guilty of murdering Luke, originally from Derby but who had moved to study in Bournemouth.

All three were handed life sentences by High Court judge Mr Justice Field for the brutal, pre-meditated attack on the 20-year-old.

Mohamed, 21, shook his head in disbelief at the verdict, while Alkadir, on his 23rd birthday, and Brown, 22, hung their heads.

Mr Justice Field said: "It was a tragic waste of a young life.

"Luke Campbell was a student at university with much to look forward to.

"The impact on his family has been truly dreadful."

Winchester Crown Court heard the men had chased Luke through the back streets of Bournemouth suburb Bos-combe on the night of November 7 last year as they sought revenge for an altercation the previous day.

The London trio – in the seaside resort dealing crack and heroin – had actually been hunting for Luke's friend, Jamie 'JJ' Henry, but pounced on Luke as he cycled past them.

Mohamed drove after him in a hired Mercedes, while Brown and Alkadir leapt out of the car and followed Luke down the side of a house.

Brown stabbed Luke with a six-inch kitchen knife borrowed from the flat of an acquaintance only minutes earlier.

The jury dismissed the murderers' claims they had not intended to kill Luke and that they only set out to intimidate him.

Mohamed, from Southwark, and Alkadir, from Lambeth, will both serve a minimum of 17 years for their involvement in the murder.

Brown, of Wyndham, will serve at least a year more.

The five-week murder trial followed a long and complex investigation by Dorset Police, which encompassed multiple police forces.

Detective Inspector Stewart Balmer, of Dorset Police's major crime unit, said: "This was a shocking and pre-planned attack against a defenceless young student.

"The defendants were ruthless individuals who had a total disregard for Luke, who had his whole life ahead of him."

Det Insp Balmer praised the bravery of witnesses who testified in court.

He also praised the co-operation between police forces in Dorset, London and Kent in tracking down the killers.

Prosecutor Sadie Rizzo said the gang's sole aim had been revenge.

"They wanted to leave their mark and Luke had little chance of getting away from them," she said.

Luke was studying IT and business at Bournemouth University.

The talented youngster had moved there a few months earlier, at the same time as his mother, Hazel.

He then started his four-year degree course.

He was a former pupil at Murray Park Community School, in Mickleover.

He had also attended Bemrose Community School, before studying at Burton College.

He had also lived in Belper.

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