Gavin Grant, a former Millwall and Bradford striker, is facing a life sentence after being convicted of a gun murder on Friday. Grant was found guilty of killing Leon Labastide in January 2004 after becoming involved in a series of revenge shootings in and around a "lawless" council estate in north-west London.
The 26-year-old, who was cleared of murder three years ago, began his professional career with Gillingham in 2005 before joining Millwall, where he made four appearances in two years. He had loan spells at several non-league clubs before moving to Wycombe after his release by the Lions in 2008 as his life spiralled out of control. Grant, remanded in custody until sentencing at the Old Bailey on Monday, spent the second half of last season with League Two club Bradford, where he made what look likely to be the final 11 appearances of his career.
Stephen Batten, prosecuting, said many of the people involved in the case had been linked to shootings and drug dealing on the Stonebridge Park Estate, in Harlesden. He told the jury: "Attitudes and standards are different. It is more the law of the jungle than the law of civilised England.