Two men who stabbed a Sydenham 20-year-old to death in Folkestone have been found guilty of his murder - despite lies by the deceased man's friends which hindered the investigation.

Gus Allman was knifed seven times in a botched heroin deal at the seaside town on February 19.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how Allman had travelled down to Folkestone from London that day with pals Melech Marshall, 19, from New Cross, Dean Alford, 20, from Aylesham, and Michael Williams, 20, from East Dulwich.

Shortly before 7.30pm, the quartet headed to the home address of two associates - Laura Smith, 38, and Damian Daley, 39 - in a silver Audi.

At the flat, Marshall met another man called Timothy Avril and exchanged a quantity of heroin with Smith before leaving. Mr Allman then went inside but emerged moments later, being chased by Daley and stabbed several times.

The four drove off and headed to Wood Avenue in Folkestone before stopping. They helped Mr Allman out of the vehicle and put him on the pavement as they waited for an ambulance. He was pronounced dead hours later.

Initial investigations by detectives in the hours after the stabbing were hindered by Marshall, Alford and Williams who insisted they had driven past Mr Allman by coincidence in Dover Road. They denied they had travelled down from London together as a group and failed to mention visiting the killers' house.

Eventually, Alford confessed visiting the flat and, despite the extensive cleaning efforts of Smith, which included cutting up bloodstained carpet and washing walls, doors and clothes, police officers were still able to find traces of Allman’s blood at the scene.

Daley, from Folkestone and Avril, 22, of East Dulwich, were convicted of murder on November 28 at Canterbury Crown Court. 

Smith, from  Folkestone and Williams, found guilty of perverting the course of justice. Marshall, 19, from Nettleton Road, New Cross, Alford, had pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at an earlier hearing.

All six will be sentenced on December 18.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Lee Whitehead from Kent Police said: "The nature of Mr Allman’s injuries not only proved he was attacked from in front and behind, but that he had no time to defend himself.

"The violent nature of the offence is very clear when you consider Smith had spent some considerable time cleaning the address in London Street yet we were still able to find evidence almost two days later.

"At every turn the investigation team was hindered, from challenges with the tampering of the crime scene by Smith to inaccurate and misleading statements by those who travelled with Mr Allman."