Boy, 16, who murdered dad on his twin daughters’ birthday to spend at least 13 years in custody

The 16-year-old-boy who murdered a father-of-four outside his Essex home on the day of his twin daughters’ second birthday party has been sentenced to at least 13 years in custody.

Joshuah Sparks, 16, stabbed plumber James Gibbons four times after the 34-year-old challenged a group of youths who were harassing a homeless man, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

The boy, who can be named after judge Mr Justice Charles Bourne lifted an anonymity order on the youth defendant, claimed it was self-defence but was found guilty of murder following an earlier trial.

James Gibbons, 34, stepped out of his twin daughters' second birthday party at his home in Laindon, Essex, on May 2, to help Christopher French, who had been targeted by a group of teens.

Sparks left the scene and later returned with a knife. He stabbed Gibbons four times.

The judge told Sparks: "It’s very troubling that there’s really no rational explanation for what you did and the original confrontation really had nothing to do with you at all.

"What you did is utterly out of proportion to anything done by anyone else involved in the incident, whichever side they were on."

Sparks bowed his head to the judge as he was led to the cells, and members of his family called out "love you Josh" and "love you mate".

Members of Mr Gibbons’s family wept at the end of the hearing.

Sparks must serve at least 13 years in custody before he can be considered for parole.

In a victim impact statement read in court by a family member, Mr Gibbons’s partner Victoria Billingham said: "My children will spend their lives missing him and have a massive part of them missing.

"In all honesty, I’m terrified of our future."

She said Mr Gibbons "cherished" their four children, who were aged seven, five and twin two-year-olds at the time, and he "worked extremely hard and long hours to make sure me and the kids wouldn’t go without."

His mother, retired college lecturer Wendy Richards, said her son had brought home,less man Christopher French a sleeping bag, pillows and blankets.

"James was helping look after and protecting a vulnerable person," she said.

She said the youths "acted as a pack" and, referring to Sparks, said: "He’s a monster to me and I will never forgive him."

Essex Police told an earlier court hearing that in the hours after the murder, the teenager admitted to the stabbing in a message in a Snapchat group, adding: "I don’t care, I’m a psychopath."

Mr Gibbons’ partner, Victoria Billingham, said she remembered him leaving their twin daughters’ birthday barbecue to speak to French outside.

"When he returned he told her there were a couple of 15-year-olds that were bullying Chris, taking advantage and eating his food," Simon Taylor QC, prosecuting, had told the court.

"He then said he was going to have another cigarette outside with Mr French to make sure he was OK."

She later heard a "loud thudding at the door", was told to call an ambulance and saw Mr Gibbons was injured, Mr Taylor said.

He died from his injuries at the scene.

Mr Taylor said Sparks had searched on the internet for "stabbing in Laindon" and "consequences of accidentally killing someone" in the early hours of May 3.

Sparks had claimed he was acting in self-defence and denied murder, but was found guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to two following a trial.

Mr Gibbons’s family said in a statement after the verdict: "James did not like bullies, and he would always be the one who would protect and look out for vulnerable people.

"We are so proud of him; he is our hero."

They described him as "a grafter, a real hardworking man, who wanted nothing else but to provide for his family," adding: "He, (his partner) Vicky and their children had their whole future to look forward to.

"Unfortunately, this has been taken from them."

Although Sparks was entitled to automatic anonymity, Mr Justice Charles Bourne, sitting at Chelmsford, ruled at his sentencing hearing on Friday he could be named.

Christine Agnew QC, mitigating, said Sparks had no previous convictions and had shown "real remorse."

She added that he had an "unstable upbringing," and that from the age of 13 he "frequently went missing… during that time he slept rough."

Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who led the case against Sparks claimed the boy has "never shown any remorse."

She said: "Today, James’ family have seen justice served. The person responsible for the death of a much-loved dad, partner, son and brother is now going to serve an appropriate sentence.

"He has never shown any remorse for cruelly taking James’ life. Not only that, Sparks’ actions mean James’ family are facing a first Christmas without him there."