Teenager jailed for stabbing Royal Navy hopeful to death with butterfly knife after he called woman ‘fit’
Haris Mohammed, 16, brutally stabbed Tom Webb, 22, in a "cowardly and senseless" attack in Derby city centre
A TEENAGER who stabbed a man to death over a comment about a 'fit' girl has been jailed for 14 years.
Haris Mohammed, 16, brutally stabbed Tom Webb, 22, in Derby city centre in what has been called a "cowardly and senseless" attack.
The court heard that Mr Webb was with two friends buying food and drinks in Tesco in the city centre.
As the lads left the store one of Mohammed's friends overheard Tom calling a young woman who walked past 'fit'.
Mohammed then used a butterfly knife with a seven inch blade to to knife Mr Webb in the chest.
He remained unemotional in Nottingham Crown Court as he was sentenced for killing the refuge worker.
Mrs Justice Cox ordered the teen to be detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure, which is the juvenile equivalent of a life sentence.
She told him: "The victim personal statements (from Mr Webb's mother and his fiancee) describe in poignant and moving detail the extent of their grief.
"The fact that you were carrying in a public place, and at night, the knife which you then used in the fatal attack is without doubt a serious aggravating feature in this case.
";You could so easily have turned and walked away."
Mohammed, of Allerton, Derby had tried to claim he attacked Mr Webb in self defence.
Mrs Justice Cox continued: "It is clear that you continue to assert that which you told the jury - that you were trying to defend yourself.
"You most certainly were not.
"Tom Webb was out in the town with his two best friends.
"They were not looking for trouble and had caused no trouble for anyone at any stage.
"They posed no threat to you whatsoever.
"I reject entirely the suggestion that you felt yourself to be under threat from Tom."
Before the sentence was handed down, Rachel Webb, the victim's mother, spoke in the witness box.
She told the jury of her 'indescribable pain" at losing her only child, who she said planned to join the Navy.
She said: "Tom was a warm, kind, thoughtful and loved son, who had just started out on his life journey.
"Tom will never have a future and the pain this causes me is indescribable."
The court heard that Mohammed took six GCSEs and other courses while on remand.
Defence barrister Peter Joyce QC told the court: "He has started to understand the depth of the harm that he has done and to seek to improve himself."
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Cox, who led the investigation, said: "I hope that this sentence sends a strong message to anyone who is thinking of carrying a knife.
"Carrying a knife can have serious consequences and this is proof of that.
"A young man lost his life that night and another youngster will now be spending at least 14 years behind bars."
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