A 15-year-old boy who boasted about stabbing another teenager to death has been jailed for life with minimum term of 12 years.

Leighton Amies shouted “I’ve wetted your boy” at a gang after he knifed Tomasz Oleszak deep in his chest as he walked through a nature park in Gateshead last October.

The defendant had denied murder, claiming he did not know he had stabbed Tomasz and slashed another youth’s coat after being attacked by the group.

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During the trial Amies could not be named by the media but Mr Justice Spencer, sitting at Newcastle Crown Court, lifted the reporting ban when he was convicted.

The judge said: “Tomasz had his whole life ahead of him. The effect has been devastating."

During the trial, jurors heard that the killer, then aged 14, was walking through Whitehills Nature Park with his girlfriend at around 8pm when a group of youths followed them.

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The Northern Echo: Tomasz Oleszak died following the attack in Gateshead Tomasz Oleszak died following the attack in Gateshead (Image: Contributor)

He was carrying a serrated kitchen knife in his jacket pocket, which he had explained he picked up at home for “reassurance” and used it to slash Tomasz when he came under attack from a group.

Amies shouted to the gang “I’ve wetted your boy” after landing the fatal blow, the court heard.

Mark McKone KC, prosecuting, told jurors: “He wanted them to know he had stabbed one of their number.

“It was a boast.”

Peter Makepeace KC, defending, had told jurors Amies had not looked for trouble and asked the jury to put themselves in his situation: aged 14, attacked by a group, in the dark, not knowing if any of the gang were armed.

He said: “This is a 14-year-old under group attack and having to make terrible decisions under a moment’s notice.”

The jury also convicted Amies of a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm on the boy whose coat was slashed.

The defendant had previously admitted carrying a blade.

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The Northern Echo: DI Chris Deavin DI Chris Deavin (Image: Northern Echo)

Detective Inspector Chris Deavin, who led the inquiry, said: “Tomasz had his whole life ahead of him, he was a promising footballer and a popular pupil at his school.

“Leighton Amies has been found guilty of murder but no conviction or any length of sentence will ever bring Tomasz back.

“We want to send an unequivocal message to anyone who chooses to carry a weapon of any kind or believes that violence is acceptable – the consequences can be devastating.

“Look at the pain this tragedy has caused – not only could you take away someone else’s future and destroy the lives of their loved ones, but also ruin your own and those of your family and friends.”

Mr Deavin also urged parents to speak to their children about the dangers of carrying a knife, adding: “Most importantly, we implore those who do carry a knife or believe it is a wise, admirable or a necessary thing to do, to think again and stop.”