Thirteen years for evil bonfire killer, aged 13

Apr 12 2008 by Chloe Griffiths, Liverpool Daily Post

A 13-YEAR-OLD who savagely beat a “helpless” man to death for no reason before throwing his body on a bonfire had enjoyed a trip with social services to Alton Towers just three days before the fatal attack.

The remains of Stephen Croft’s badly-charred body was found in the embers of a public bonfire in the early hours of November 6 last year.

Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Henry Globe QC, yesterday told the schoolboy he will be locked up for a minimum of 13 years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard tall, stockily-built Jamie Smith, who was on the run from a care home at the time, launched the brutal and unprovoked attack after drinking with Mr Croft by the fire on wasteland near Whetstone Lane in Birkenhead.

By the end of the evening popular Everton fan Mr Croft, who turned to drink following an industrial accident in 2006, was incapable of defending himself.

The court was told “for no reason” Smith, fuelled by alcohol, turned on him.

The schoolboy, who has a history of violence, repeatedly kicked and punched him to death, while his victim screamed in pain. David Turner QC, prosecuting, told the court it was an “apparently motiveless murder”.

After the killing, Smith stole Mr Croft’s tobacco, cigarette papers and a lighter before dumping his body on the bonfire near the YMCA in a bid to conceal his crime.

Yesterday, Judge Globe detained the schoolboy indefinitely at Her Majesty’s pleasure.

He told the youngster, who was wearing a black suit, white shirt and striped tie and was flanked by two care workers, he would serve a minimum of 13 years before being considered for parole.

He said: “During the attack the victim was drawing his body up to protect himself and was screaming out in pain.

“I am satisfied that despite his inebriation there was considerable physical suffering, but you did nothing to stop the attack.”

Judge Globe added that he believed the unprovoked attack was “motivated partly by his desire to steal”.

The court heard the youngster, who wiped away tears as the hearing began, but then sat impassively, had eight previous convictions in the previous two years and had been before the courts just a week before the killing.

Reports showed he posed a high risk of re-offending and harming others.

Following the attack, a dirtied Smith went to the YMCA in Quarry Bank and reported a man had fallen in the fire and claimed he had tried to save him. He was arrested after returning to the fire at about 3.30am but told officers “you’re out of order. I didn’t do f--- all”.

Mr Croft had suffered severe facial injuries, brain damage and there was evidence Smith had clamped his mouth shut.

The skilled builder, who paramedics had tried to take to hospital hours before the killing, was dead before being thrown on the bonfire.

Mr Croft’s mother, youth worker Patricia, heard the devastating the news on November 6, her birthday.

The mother-of-two said: “Hearing the horrific details of how my son was so cruelly beaten and callously tossed on to the bonfire was too hard to bear.”

• SARAH Croft, Stephen’s sister, said in a statement by the family: “Due to the nature and severity of the injuries inflicted upon Stephen, our family and his friends were unable to see him for one last time to say our final goodbyes; this is something we will never get over.”

Last night, Wirral Council confirmed it was undertaking a “multi-agency critical incident review”.

Chief executive of Wirral Council, Steve Maddox, said: “This is a tragic case and no words can ever compensate the Croft family for the loss of their son, who was loved by his family and friends, and a well-liked member of the community.

“We are committed to implementing any recommendations that relate to Wirral Council.”

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