The heartbroken mother of murdered Joseph Whitchurch revealed her raw emotions at having to say "goodbye" to her "little protector" and her first born.
A courtroom at Nottingham Crown Court fell slient as Lisa Kilkenny described her boy, Joseph, as a "loving caring man" who was just 16 years old when he died - another brutal casualty of knife crime.
While she spoke every emotionally-charged word clearly from the witness box, her son's killer, Jake Rollinson, sat just a few metres away staring blankly ahead.
Today, Friday, March 11, Rollinson was jailed for Joseph's murder after he stabbed him at least four times at Rollinson's Stapleford home.
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.
Ms Kilkenny 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".
The teenager was stabbed at least four times by 21-year-old Rollinson, a small-time drug dealer who dealt in cannabis and cocaine, on Boxing Day morning. Joseph died on December 29.
His mum told the court: "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".
Like many families they were enjoying Christmas.
"Joseph announced that he was full and gave me a kiss to say thank you and, ‘I love you’," remembered Ms Kilkenney.
But later police arrived to deliver the terrible news her son was in hospital.
"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 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 its extremely hard. We are surrounded by amazing family and friends as without them we wouldn’t be able to get through this".
Rollinson, of Hickings Lane, Stapleford, was sentenced with along with his girlfriend, Lorna Richardson, 25, of Blake Road in Stapleford, for perverting the course of justice.
A hairdresser, it was Richardson who 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, Ms Kilkenny said nkife crime happens everywhere and is not channeled in certain groups anymore.
"It claims so many lives. It seems to be everywhere. It is very sad," she told Nottinghamshire Live.
Get the latest headlines straight to your inbox with Nottinghamshire Live's free email updates.
