The parents of a teenager who lost his life after being attacked after a night out at a fun fair have paid a moving a tribute to their much-loved son.
Jack Woodley died hours after being fatally wounded last October – and ten teenagers were today sentenced after being held responsible for his death.
Read more: Jack Woodley murder: Ten teens are JAILED for minimum of 124 years
Jack is survived by his father John Woodley, mother Zoey McGill, stepdad Chris McGill and three siblings.
Read more: All 10 defendants are GUILTY of killing Aycliffe teen
Zoe, Jack’s mother said: “Jack was my reason to live and succeed in life. From the moment Jack was born he brought light and love to us all.
“In the months before October, Jack had sat and passed his English and Math Level 3, CSCS Operatives Card, Forklift Truck License and had secured a job with Amazon which he was due to start the Monday after his death.
“Jack had also secured his own accommodation and had received the keys for this on the day he was attacked. We were all very proud of Jack and this should have been a very exciting time in his life.
“The devastation of losing Jack is immense and far reaching. The trauma of reliving this whole incident over a long trial has had a devastating effect on us all. We cannot see a way of recovering from this.
“We feel imprisoned by our grief and trauma.
Read more: Closing prosecution speech made to Jack Woodley murder trial jury
“No parent, loved one or friend should suffer someone going to a fair and losing them forever. We will never be able to share treasured family moments with our ‘cheeky chappy blue-eyed boy’ ever again.”
John, Jack’s father said: “It feels nearly impossible to put into words and describe how my life has changed after the passing of my beautiful son Jack.
“My heart has broken into a million pieces and the hurt this has caused is unmentionable.
“My son went to a fair with his girlfriend to enjoy a night out and he didn’t come back. The pain and fear he must have endured that night is unthinkable.
“Jack had his whole life ahead of him, he was just 18 years old. Those who attacked our Jack get to see their families and have a future, Jack does not.
“We visit Jack at his grave and wonder how his life would have been if he was still here.
“As a family we couldn’t even see Jack for six weeks after his death as he had to go through so many different examinations after the attack. We laid him to rest eight weeks after he died - eight terrible, painful weeks.
“The trial process has been extremely difficult to endure. The grief has been amplified through this long trial process. Having to relive what happened to Jack on that night has been horrific to us all.
“Jack my boy, I will love and forever miss you. All our hearts are forever broken.”
Meanwhile, Andrea Milsom, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North East, said: “The attack on Jack last year was as cowardly as it was senseless. Significantly outnumbered, Jack was chased down by a group of teenagers, some armed with weapons, before being viciously and fatally assaulted in front of his friends and other members of the public
“While much of this was captured on CCTV and mobile phones the verbal evidence provided by witnesses, many of whom are young people themselves, has played a critical role in this prosecution.
“We stand alongside our police colleagues in praising the bravery of those who assisted this investigation. It is thanks to their courage, and also to the excellent investigation by Northumbria Police, that the Crown Prosecution Service has been able to meticulously piece together the chaotic sequence of events and to show clearly each defendant’s part in it."
"Our thoughts remain with the family of Jack Woodley, who have spoken today of the grief and trauma they continue to endure. We sincerely hope that today’s convictions provide some measure of comfort to them at what remains an incredibly difficult time.”
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