A detective inspector has praised the family of a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death and described the impact on them as "absolutely devastating".
Tomasz Oleszak was murdered by Leighton Aimes, 15, at a park near the Springwell Estate in Gateshead on October 3 last year. The teenager was rushed to hospital where he sadly passed away.
Amies, of Stuart Terrace, Felling, Gateshead, was convicted by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court of murdering Tomasz and attempting to cause GBH with intent to another boy. He had previously admitted possession of a bladed article.
On Thursday morning, he was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years behind bars.
Tomasz is originally from Poland. He came to the UK with his mum Kamila Wisniewska, 35, and his step-dad Patryk Malocha, 31, in 2012 for a better life and they moved onto the Springwell Estate.
The couple previously spoke out about losing Tomasz and backed Chronicle Live's Stop Knives Taking Lives campaign. Kamila, who is a factory worker, said: "Tomasz was a loving, caring boy.
"To this day I cannot accept the fact that he is no longer with us. It's terrible what happened to him and how his life was taken. It was so pointless and unnecessary."
Detective Inspector Chris Deavin was the senior investigating officer in the murder enquiry for Northumbria Police.
He said: "Tomasz came to the UK with his family. Tomasz's family are really great people. He lived with his mum, step-dad and brother.
"They have been fully supportive of this investigation throughout and I can't begin to imagine the type of pain that they've suffered throughout the whole of this investigation.
"I think it's probably very difficult to put into words the impact it's had on Tomasz's family. They've lost their son in horrendous circumstances. The impact on Tomasz's family has been absolutely devastating.
"Tomasz's mum unfortunately had to go to the scene and saw paramedics working on her son. And as the father of a teenager I can't begin to imagine what the sight is like. The emotions you must have there, I can't begin to put into words what they must be like.
"I can't praise them enough really, they've been superb throughout the whole of this investigation."
Tomasz was a midfielder in the Under 15 Stars team at Gateshead Cleveland Hall Football Club in Gateshead. The football club raised more than £26,000 to help his family through the worst time of their lives.
The local community, who were left shocked by what happened, held a vigil to remember Tomasz. Charity football matches have also been held in his memory.
Det Insp Deavin has described Tomasz as a "really well liked boy" who was popular at school and a member of his local football side.
He said: "I think it's testament to him that at a recent awards ceremony for his team that won the league he was still included. His brother, who is six or seven, attended and received his medal on his behalf for that win of that league. So you know he is not forgotten within the community."
Det Insp Deavin said that the killing has not only had a huge impact Tomasz's relatives and the local community but also Aimes' family.
He said: "Did they anticipate that that was going to happen that night? Probably not and they've now lost Leighton for a long time.
"You've got to have some appreciation of that but he now has to face the consequences of his actions. He chose to to take that knife out that night and he chose to use it in a way that he did.
"Leighton's had a pupil referral unit within the Gateshead area. I think he's had some difficulties through his life. Obviously that doesn't justify, on that night, deciding to take a knife out with him and using it to stab Tomasz."
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