Kyreis Davies jailed for at least 21 years for Tavis Spencer-Aitkens murder

Kyreis Davies, 17, had denied murdering Tavis Spencer-Aitkens in Ipswich in a revenge attack after being disrespected by some of his friends.

But the teenager was convicted of murder by a jury following a four month trial, along with three others.

A fourth defendant was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

Tavis, also 17, was attacked yards from his home in Packard Avenue and died after suffering 15 stab wounds.

He had been walking away from nearby shops when he was approached by two men on bicycles who attacked him.

Four or five other people then joined in the assault.

In the days after Tavis was killed, armed police raided a house in Colchester where Davies and co-defendant Aristote Yenge, 23, were both arrested and later charged.

Davies, of Turnstile Square, Colchester, was jailed for life by Judge Martyn Levett at Ipswich Crown Court and will serve a minimum of 21 years behind bars before

Yenge, of Spring Road, Ipswich, Adebayo Amusa, 20, of Sovereign Road, Barking and Isaac Calver, 19, of Firmin Close, Ipswich were also convicted of murder and given life sentences.

They will serve minimum of 25, 23 and 21 years respectively.

Callum Platts, 23, of no fixed abode was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter and jailed for 14 years.

Yenge, Davies, Calver and Plaats were all part of a group who called themselves J-Block while Tavis was friends with rivals called Neno.

On the day of the murder in June Davies and Yenge were forced to hide from Neno members and the attack was thought to have been planned as revenge.

Det Insp Mike Brown of the Major Investigation Team said: "

Tragic - Tavis Spencer-Aitkens

Tavis was 17-years-old, still just a boy with his whole life ahead of him, and this was cut short by an utterly senseless act of violence.

“His attackers also had their whole lives ahead of them, but in taking the deliberate and calculated decision to ambush Tavis and stab him 15 times, they will now spend what should have been their own prime years locked away, making our streets a safer place.

“I hope that other young people who are lured into the dangerous world of knife crime and gang culture take note of the outcome of this case. It might be seen as glamorous by some, but let me assure you there is nothing glamorous about spending 20 years inside a prison.

“You are not free to inflict harm on other people as you see fit and without consequences. This investigation has shown our determination to pursue the people responsible for Tavis’ murder and bring them to justice."