A JEALOUS teenager who murdered a young boy in an unprovoked attack has been sentenced to life in prison.
Kyle Pickles, 17, formerly of Kirkstall Road, New Lodge, stabbed 15-year-old Loui Phillips to death on Fish Dam Lane, Monk Bretton, on August 8 in a ‘jealous rage’ over a perceived relationship - he then calmly walked away from the scene, leaving Loui for dead.
Pickles admitted murdering Loui at a hearing on October 25 and appeared at Doncaster Crown Court on Monday as he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 17 years.
He was also sentenced to three years in prison for possessing an offensive weapon - this sentence will be served concurrently.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Oughton, who led the investigation into Loui’s murder, said: “Loui had been stabbed with such force that the handle of the knife snapped off, leaving the blade lodged in his chest.
“He was rushed to hospital where he underwent open heart surgery in A and E to remove the blade, before being transferred to the specialist Cardiac Unit where he underwent further surgery.
“Sadly, despite the best efforts of all at the hospital, Loui died on Thursday, August 12.”
When officers arrived at the scene of Loui’s death, Pickles was identified as his killer by a witness and, after being spotted by police from their aircraft near his house, he fled when approached.
He was located and arrested shortly after.
He made ‘no comment’ during the interview but his DNA was found on the handle of the murder weapon, and was picked out in an ID parade.
“This is an incredibly tragic case where an innocent young boy was stabbed to death, simply because his attacker was jealous of a perceived relationship,” DCI Oughton added.
“Pickles located Loui and his friend, using the social media platform Snapchat.
“He planned his attack, located the pair and purposely set out armed with a kitchen knife to go and stab him.
“He has shown no remorse for his actions throughout, and continued to maintain his innocence until his court appearance in October.
“Loui was still conscious after he was stabbed and managed to give a full account of the attack to a police officer on the way to the hospital. All he wanted to know was where his mum was.
“My thoughts today are once again with Loui’s mum and family.
“They have shown great courage and dignity throughout these proceedings.
“I know that no length of sentence will bring Loui back to them, but I hope they feel that, in some small way, justice has been done.”
Tributes have been paid to Loui, who ‘had the world at his feet’, after his jealous murderer decided to ‘play God’.
It would have been Loui's 16th birthday on November 4 - but he was unable to make it to the milestone after Pickles stabbed him to death in an unprovoked attack.
Loui’s mum, Louise Hartley, has said she has been ‘totally lost’ since her son’s tragic death in August.
She said: “I keep reliving the phone call that Loui made to me after he was stabbed, and the proceeding days where I sat by his bedside in hospital watching him die.
“I miss Loui constantly.
“I miss the small moments like him wandering into the room to sit with me or ringing me to say he will be home soon when out with friends.
“Loui had the world at his feet.
“He was young, good looking, and opportunities seemed to be opening up for him.
“He loved football and was excelling on the pitch. He had also recently started catering college.
“He was a very sociable boy and was quite the charmer with the girls.
“He never left the house without making sure that his hair was perfectly styled.
“It was Loui’s 16th birthday on November 4, and I spent it by his graveside.
“I can no longer smile.
“I feel physically incapable of happiness.
“I would feel guilty to do so knowing that my Loui is not able to.
“I want my son here with me - I love him so much.”
Loui’s auntie, Leighann Phillips, described the youngster as a ‘special soul’ and wants him to know that his life mattered.
“In the 15 years that Loui was on this Earth he touched everyone’s hearts.
“He was a special soul who loved and was loved.
“I can only imagine what a man he would have become.
“We will never know where his personality and talent would have taken him.
“He was taken from us by Kyle Pickles, who on that day decided to play God.
“Our Loui did not know his attacker, he never saw him coming, and never had a chance to defend himself.”
