Jodian says her son was drawn deeper into danger before stabbing

The grieving mother of 15-year-old Daejaun Campbell has said her son was drawn deeper into danger before he was stabbed to death in southeast London, accusing social services and local authorities of failing to protect him despite repeated warnings that he was being groomed by drug dealers and exploited by older criminals. Jodian Taylor’s powerful testimony has highlighted systemic gaps in safeguarding and the devastating toll that criminal exploitation takes on vulnerable youths and their families.

Daejaun — described by his mother as a happy, “intelligent” and fun-loving boy — began to change in his early teens as he was introduced to older peers linked with local drug dealers. Taylor said that despite noticing behavioural shifts and raising her concerns with both his school and local council social services, her pleas for intensive support were repeatedly dismissed or inadequately addressed.

Calls for Help That Went Unanswered

Taylor urged authorities to intervene when Daejaun began spending long periods away from home and associating with suspected gang affiliates. She said she even referred herself to social services in hopes of accessing help early, warning that her son was at serious risk of harm.

However, she told the BBC’s Panorama programme that social services repeatedly failed to act effectively, with a social worker missing crucial meetings meant to protect Daejaun. She said her concerns were ignored until it was “too late,” and that professionals failed to see how deeply he was being influenced by older criminals who used him to carry and sell drugs.

Daejaun was tragically attacked on 22 September 2024 on Eglington Road in Woolwich — a street known locally for gang activity — and died at the scene after being stabbed in the leg with a “zombie” knife that severed a major artery. He reportedly called out, “I’m 15, don’t let me die” as paramedics tried to save him. Seven months later, two teenagers were convicted at the Old Bailey: Imri Doue was found guilty of murder and sentenced to a minimum of 21 years, while Marko Balaz received an 11-year term for manslaughter.

Exploitation and Grooming: A Systemic Failure

Taylor has been vocal that her son’s involvement in criminal activity — which included possession of drugs being sold for others and occasional cannabis arrests — was not a reflection of poor parenting but the result of criminal grooming and exploitation. She revealed that Daejaun had become increasingly secretive and distant, and that troubling photos of him with cash and drugs circulated online following his death.

Despite Daejaun’s mother repeatedly telling professionals that he was being influenced and exploited, she said she felt ignored or dismissed. She argued that authorities failed to properly coordinate across social services, schools, and police, leaving her son vulnerable to influences far more powerful than she could counter alone.

Her account has resonated with many families affected by similar tragedies, reigniting debate over how gangs seek out vulnerable young people and how public services can better intervene before exploitation turns into fatal violence.

Impact and Broader Discussion

Taylor said the hardest part of her loss is not just the absence of her son’s daily presence — his laughs, phone calls, and future milestones — but the profound sense that opportunities to keep him safe were missed. She has spoken repeatedly about wanting to raise awareness so that other families might not suffer the same fate.

Experts have pointed to growing challenges in dealing with child criminal exploitation in the UK, where gangs increasingly rely on teenagers to distribute drugs and perform errands, often using violence or threats to keep them involved. A Child Safeguarding review into Daejaun’s case is underway and expected to report later in the year, with questions about what could have been done differently to protect him and other at-risk youths.

For Taylor, the fight for better protections remains deeply personal and ongoing. “He had dreams. He had a whole life ahead of him,” she said. “But he was drawn deeper into danger, and no one stepped in soon enough.”

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