Blaine Hammond murder: Family's heartfelt statement after son's death

Blaine Hammond was brutally assaulted in the early hours of December 3, 2021, by Louis Whelan and Anthony Keating, who then dumped his body in a disused telecommunications exchange box, on Saltburn Road, Sunderland.

Emergency services, including police and paramedics, attended later that morning after eventually being alerted by Whelan, and they found the 22-year-old victim in the telecommunications hut, at the scene.

Despite their best efforts, Mr Hammond was pronounced dead.

Read more: Blaine Hammond murder: Life sentences for killers of Sunderland man

Following an extensive police investigation Whelan and Keating, both now 23, were identified as suspects and arrested, before being subsequently charged with murder.

They were later convicted following a five-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court in November, during which the jury heard details of how they savagely beat Mr Hammond and then left him for dead.

At today’s (Wednesday January 25) sentencing hearing, Whelan, formerly of Saltburn Road, but now of Watling Street, Towcester, in Northamptonshire, and Keating, of Palmerston Road, Sunderland, were both jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 14 years before being eligible for consideration for parole.

During the sentencing hearing this afternoon, a victim impact statement, written by Mr Hammond’s family, was read out on behalf of his mother, Leigh Gray.

It read: “I will never get over the loss of my beautiful son or the horrendous circumstances of his murder.

“Blaine was a kind, caring, well-loved son, brother, uncle, nephew, grandson, cousin and friend.

“Those responsible for Blaine’s death have not only taken his life but have destroyed the lives of all who loved him.

“We all feel like we are living our own life sentence.

“We were never given the chance to say goodbye to Blaine.

“Blaine had his whole life ahead of him, he wanted to drive a car, have a family and children.

“He loved his holidays, working and spending times with his friends.

“It has taken two people to destroy not only his life but his family and friends. “He will always be loved and missed and forever in our hearts.”

In a previous statement, made to the court during the case, Ms Gray said her son was “well-liked, with lots of friends”, adding: “He would lift your spirits", and, "would never hurt a fly.”

She described how, when her son failed to return home, which was “unusual” she left the house door open as he had lost so many sets of keys previously.

“Blaine didn't have a mobile phone. He hadn't had one for probably six months.

"I started messaging his friends to see if they knew where he was.

"I also drove around the area looking for Blaine."

She said she read a post on Facebook about a body being found in unexplained circumstances and saw ambulance and police at the scene but did not think that was related to her search for her son.

Having messaged another of Blaine's friends she rang the hospital and drove to the police station.

She added: "Blaine was social and well liked, with lots of friends.

“He was always in and out of the house, spending time with his friends.

Read next:

               Blaine Hammond murder: Louis Whelan and Anthony Keating found guilty

               Two men charged with murder following death of man in Sunderland

               Two men in court charged with Sunderland murder

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“He was the sort of person who would lift your spirits.

“He was a good person and wouldn't hurt a fly."

Members of the family and others in the public gallery for today’s sentencing hearing were thanked by the judge, Mr Justice Stephen Morris, for the, “courtesy and dignity they have shown throughout the case.”