A man who stabbed a promising teenage boxer to death in a row over £5 has been jailed for life.
Leighton Barrass, 20, has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years in prison for the murder of Connor Brown, 18.
Mr Brown who was stabbed to death in Sunderland in February this year.
Barrass stabbed Connor Brown through the heart, taking the life of a 'wonderful son' who stepped in to protect others.
The talented boxer was a night out when Barrass and accomplice Ally Gordon, also 20, approached him and his friends in a back alley.
Barrass tried to sell them drugs for £5 which they refused, before he threatened to 'stab anyone' in revenge.
Connor suffered five stab wounds in the attack captured on CCTV in his hometown of Sunderland on Feb 24.
He died despite efforts to save him.
Jamie Hill QC, prosecuting, told the trial: "As Barrass was threatening to stab someone, Connor Brown stepped forward and punched him, we say to stop him carrying out his threat.
”Barrass then proceeded to stab Connor Brown in the chest.
"Connor tried to fight back but he was bleeding heavily, and the pair ended up.. falling on the floor with Barrass on top continuing to wield the knife, delivering blows to the front and back of his body."
Gordon kicked and stamped on the teenager as he struggled to protect himself.
Mr Hill said one stab wound had entered the left ventricle of Connor's heart and it was 'this which would prove fatal'.
Barrass was found guilty of murder by a jury yesterday after a month-long trial.
Gordon, also of Sunderland, was found guilty of manslaughter. Both will be sentenced today (Thurs).
Speaking after the verdicts, Det Supt John Bent, of Northumbria Police, said: “This tragedy has devastated Connor’s family, friends, and the wider community of Sunderland.
“The outpouring of grief in the days and weeks after Connor’s death highlighted just how popular he was – he had everything to live for. I would like to thank Connor’s family for their incredible bravery and support over the last 10 months."
He hoped the verdicts had brought them justice, and acted as reminder to communities "that carrying a knife - under any circumstances - is totally unacceptable."
Connor's parents described him as 'the most wonderful son that any parents could have wished for'.
"He lit up every room he walked in to, his smile was infectious and he was loved by so many people," they said. “Nothing can bring Connor back, that is the sobering reality that we face.
“We hope that if any lessons can be learnt from Connor’s death, it’s that there can never a good reason for carrying a knife – under any circumstances.”
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who is from Sunderland, gave towards a fund for Connor's family in the aftermath of the tragedy.
