A man described as a 'violent bully' has been jailed for 12 years for killing a vulnerable former chef in a campaign of abuse. Bamidele Fawehinmi, 33, subjected Dimitrios Tsavdaris, 55, to a series of violent attacks over five weeks, culminating in his death.
Mr Tsavdaris, known as Jimmy, was found dead in a 'cuckoo' flat in north London on 29 January 2024. The frail crack cocaine addict, who weighed just over eight stone, had been dead or dying for several days without help. He had suffered fractures to his ribs, chest, and head, as well as brain injuries.
Fawehinmi, a drug dealer, had forced Mr Tsavdaris to sleep in a garage with pitbull dogs and treated him like a 'lackey'. He transported the injured victim from his home in Wickford, Essex, to Hackney. Police were alerted after Fawehinmi's father reported the death. Fawehinmi attempted to flee to Nigeria but was arrested on the M11.
Fawehinmi pleaded guilty to manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm. He was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 12 years in prison. Judge Mark Lucraft KC noted he had kept the victim in 'squalid' conditions and highlighted the 'deeply shocking' impact of class A drug addiction.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Tsavdaris's former wife, Andrea Lavor, described him as 'the love of my life' and a caring father. His son, Antonio, expressed anguish at the lack of remorse. Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen called Fawehinmi a 'violent bully' who preyed on vulnerable people.
