Former Bradford City footballer Gavin Grant has been jailed for life for shooting a former friend and told he would have to serve at least 25 years.

The 26-year-old striker played for City between February and the end of last season, and was thought to be in line for a new contract for next season.

He thought he had got away with murder after Leon Labastide, 21, was gunned down outside his parents’ home in 2004, the Old Bailey was told.

Detective Inspector Steve Horsley said after the trial: “Gavin Grant thought he had got away with murder.

“He carried on his career while, all along, he had blood on his hands.”

Grant had been cleared in August 2007 of the shooting murder of Jahmall Moore. But he was charged with Mr Labastide’s murder after new witnesses came forward.

Gareth Downie, 25, and Damian Williams, 32, were also jailed for life and given minimum terms of 25 years – Downie for murdering Mr Labastide and Williams for conspiracy to murder.

As Grant was being sentenced at the Old Bailey, a woman shouted from the public gallery: “It’s all fixed” and “You are coming out”.

The Recorder of London, Judge Peter Beaumont, said Mr Labastide’s murder had been in revenge for a series of “tit-for-tat” shootings.

Mr Labastide’s mother, Diane Havill, said in a statement: “Leon was a keen footballer who shared his passion for the game with all who knew him. He loved life. His senseless killing by so-called friends who grew up with him has left it hard for me to understand the futility of snatching Leon’s future whilst destroying their own.”

A charge that Grant had committed perjury at his trial for murdering Mr Moore, 22, was allowed to lie on file.

Roberto Parchment, 24, originally convicted of Mr Moore’s murder, was found guilty again following a retrial in December brought about by supergrass Darren Mathurin’s involvement.

Stephen Batten QC, prosecuting, said that many of the people involved in the case had been linked to shootings and drug-dealing on the Stonebridge Park estate in Harlesden, north-west London.

He told the jury: “Attitudes and standards are different.

“It is more the law of the jungle than the law of civilised England.”