The mother of a London knife crime victim has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her son after a group of friends and family were found guilty over his death.
Jay Sewell, 18, was stabbed to death after being attacked by a group of thugs in Lee, south-east London, in December last year.
As Daniel Grogan, 21, was found guilty by an Old Bailey jury of murdering Mr Sewell and Charlie Dudley, 26, Ann Grogan, 54, and Robert Grogan, 57, were convicted of manslaughter, the victim’s mother Sharon Louch said: “It breaks my heart to know that Jay will never be able to fulfil his dreams.
“He is my first thought when I wake up and last before I go to bed. I try my hardest to shield my children from the pain, but I can’t do it. They all know they will never see their brother again.
“It’s been nearly ten months since that day in December, each one proving as hard as that before it. The trial lasted for what seemed an eternity [16 weeks] – I pray I never have anything to compare it to.”
She went on: “There is no sentence this court or any other can pass which can come close to healing the pain or make up for not being able to look at my Jay’s face or hear him laugh. I haven’t come here expecting or wanting it to. However it does provide a glimmer of hope that those responsible have been held to account for their actions.
“Jay: you were a blessing and made us proud from the day you came to us until the moment you were taken.”
The court heard how, in the week before the attack, Daniel Grogan had become increasingly jealous of Mr Sewell - who was dating his ex-girlfriend - and had made repeated threats to kill him. He also attacked his girlfriend two days before the fatal attack.
On December 11, Mr Sewell travelled with friends and his girlfriend to meet Daniel Grogan in Alwold Crescent. Their intention was to stop him threatening and harassing Mr Sewell’s girlfriend.
But he and his friends were ambushed by the defendants, who left a property in Sibthorpe Road armed with knives, hammers, wood and an axe.
Mr Sewell was stabbed along with another 18-year-old man. They were taken to hospital but Mr Sewell died later that evening from a single stab wound to the chest. He had also been stabbed twice in the legs.
The second victim was able to recover.
Francesca Grogan, 30, Jamie Bennett, 31, Liam Hickey, 19, and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named were also found guilty of violent disorder.
The eight defendants will be sentenced on a date to be confirmed in November.
