A boy who fatally stabbed another teenager during a sickening gang attack as they left a fun fair is appealing against his murder conviction, the Northern Echo can reveal.

The youth, who was 15 when he killed Jack Woodley with a Rambo-style knife, admitted manslaughter but was found guilty of the more serious charge along with nine other boys.

Now all ten are challenging the original verdicts, leaving Jack’s heartbroken mother, Zoey McGill, in limbo as her quest to get justice for her beloved son continues.

Read more: Appeal hearing for nine teenagers convicted of killing Jack Woodley is approved

The Northern Echo: Jack Woodley's mother Zoey McGill Jack Woodley's mother Zoey McGill (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Zoey, from Newton Aycliffe, said: “It is just beyond belief.

"What they did to Jack was disgusting and we are still living this nightmare every single day.

“It is so hard having to put up with this, with them saying they are innocent when everyone heard in court what they did."

During his trial last spring the boy who stabbed Jack told jurors he did not intend to kill the 18-year-old but was he found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years.

Zoey said: “He said he did not mean to kill Jack, just to harm him. Why? He did not even know him. It is appalling.

“We are now having to go through this for an even longer period of time not knowing what the outcome will be. It is soul-destroying.”

Mrs Justice Maura McGowan has already granted ‘leave to appeal’ to the nine other boys contesting the conviction secured under controversial joint enterprise legislation and a hearing is set to be listed before the Court of Appeal in London.

Lawyers representing the youngster who stabbed Jack with a ten-inch survival knife have this week registered their intention to try to get the conviction overturned.

Read more: Judge's sentencing remarks after Jack Woodley murder trial

The Northern Echo: Jack Woodley was attacked as he left the Houghton Feast Jack Woodley was attacked as he left the Houghton Feast (Image: Northern Echo)

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: “We have received confirmation from the Court of Appeal that a tenth defendant is now seeking leave to appeal their conviction in this case.

“We are currently awaiting the basis of that appeal.”

Read more: Mum of murdered Aycliffe teen and mum of convicted killer clash over appeal

Jack was fatally injured outside the Britannia Inn in Houghton-le-Spring at around 9.30pm on October 16, 2021, having been subjected to a sustained and brutal attack in which he was kicked, punched and stamped on before he was stabbed.

His killers, who followed Jack from the Houghton Feast and were aged between 14 and 17 at the time, were sentenced to minimum terms of between eight and 15 years’ detention at Newcastle Crown Court.

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When the boy who delivered the fatal blow was sentenced Judge Rodney Jameson said: “You brought out the knife from where you had hidden it in your trousers and stabbed Jack to the area of his right hip.

“This caused a relatively minor wound. You were not satisfied with that.

“As the attack on Jack continued, you can be seen circling around the group who were attacking him, with the knife in your hand, before running in and stabbing him again, this time in the back and fatally.

“I am satisfied you intended to do this and knew what you had done.

"You ran off, having achieved your purpose.”