A mum made a heartbreaking statement as the man who stabbed her teenage son to death was jailed for life.
Joseph Whitchurch, 16, was stabbed at least four times by Jake Rollinson, 21, at the killer's home in Stapleford, Notts.
Rollinson, a small-time drug dealer who dealt cannabis and cocaine, knifed Joseph on Boxing Day morning. He died on December 29.
Nottingham Crown Court fell silent when Lisa Kilkenny spoke of her son as a "loving caring man".
Rollinson sat a few metres away staring blankly ahead.
Lisa said: "Joseph was also a first-born grandson, a nephew and a friend. I want the court to understand the heartbreak that we have gone through and how our lives have been changed forever."
She continued: "He was always a ‘little protector’ and was the same for his brothers and friends. He had a large group of friends, he loved people and meeting new friends even as young as two, when we were on holiday. He would be the go-to person for people to confide in and share their troubles as he was trustworthy and loyal.
"Joseph loved being around people and people loved being around him.
"He had a happy nature, and his warm and caring personality was loved by everyone. He was always looking out for his younger brothers and was a kind and loyal friend. I was always told ‘what a lovely polite young lad’ he was. Even to this day."
"Joseph was naturally good at sport and excelled in swimming, rugby and cricket," his mum told the court.
"He was a member of the local cricket and rugby teams and enjoyed success in county swimming leagues too.
"He achieved the top scouting award before he joined the county swimming club. He did well in school and found school and academic work easier than most. He completed and passed all his GCSEs at a high level."
His mum told how he wanted to be an engineer, and had recently undertaken some work experience at Rolls-Royce that had spurred him on to embark on this career, coming home with tales of the new people he had met and the experience he had enjoyed.
She said: "He also helped out his dad in his work, to start to learn some labouring skills and was really keen to start to learn to drive.
"Like many 16-year-old lads, Joseph enjoyed his music and his great loves were food and eating it.
"He also had a great circle of friends who are still in touch to share their memories with us, they too are devastated. He was also looking forward to finishing college and entering the world of work".
Rollinson was jailed for Joseph's murder.
Judge Stuart Rafferty QC set the minimum term he would serve at 19 years before he can apply for parole and imposed lesser concurrent sentences and other charges of perverting the course of justice, for supplying cannabis and cocaine.
Like many families, they were enjoying Christmas and Lisa shared her last conversation with her son.
She said: "Joseph announced that he was full and gave me a kiss to say thank you and, ‘I love you’."
But later police arrived to deliver the terrible news her son was in the hospital.
She said: "I just kept thinking, was he (Joseph) scared? Did he feel so much pain? So many questions I was shattered and in so much pain. I was told in no uncertain terms how bad this was. I just remember feeling so much pain in my heart. I felt it was about to break in half, the tears were just uncontrollable.
"After a few painful hours, we were able to see, touch and kiss
Joseph, although we were aware he was so poorly. My beautiful boy was lying there after so much surgery.
"No parent ever imagines going through this and the pain and anguish as you await news and the enormity of his injuries.
"I couldn’t stop smelling and touching him. Praying and telling him not to leave me. I prayed God would take me instead. It's so hard to put into words but the pain in me was taking my breath".
His mum said: "When we were told that he was brain dead, we had to say goodbye. I remember screaming…’how am I going to live without you, my beautiful boy’. The whole room was crying; nurses, doctors, surgeons… everyone.
"This pain was so immense and touched everyone. Having to tell friends and family this news left them in utter shock, full of grief. I struggled looking at my mum and dad as the pain in their eyes were too much to see. They were broken.
"His brothers were in complete shock. The grief is still consuming their young lives.
"They were so close and looked up to their amazing big brother. He had been there since they were born and shared an amazing bond.
"As a family, we are trying to live, but it is extremely hard. We are surrounded by amazing family and friends as without them we wouldn’t be able to get through this".
Rollinson, of Stapleford, was sentenced along with his girlfriend, Lorna Richardson, 25, of Stapleford, for perverting the course of justice.
Richardson, a hairdresser, helped Rollinson give false accounts to police after the stabbing. At the time of the incident, she was outside in her car.
They both pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice after they were filmed giving false accounts to officers after Joseph was stabbed, which the prosecution had said was intended to "wrong-foot" the police investigation.
Richardson wept as she was jailed for two years.
After the sentencing, Lisa said knife crime happens everywhere and is not channelled in certain groups anymore.
