THE FAMILY OF KILLERS

A drug dealer, his partner, her son and his girlfriend were today starting jail sentences for killing a teenager in the early hours of New Year's Day.

High on drink and drugs, Darren Carr (35) and Nicola Faulds (32) set upon Bradley Whitfield in a frenzied attack, along with Faulds' son Lewis, 16, and Chelsea Faxon, 16.

Student Bradley, of Hallam Crescent East, Braunstone, Leicester, bled to death just after 5am on January 1,400 yards from home.

He had been stabbed in the neck with a broken vodka bottle, punched and kicked in the head after becoming involved in a confrontation with the defendants as he walked home from a party. Mrs Justice Dobbs yesterday lifted reporting restrictions after an application by the Leicester Mercury, meaning that the identities and relationships of all the killers can now be revealed.

For Bradley's parents, the sentencing means they can close a chapter on an 11-month nightmare, according to the senior detective who led the murder investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Smith comforted Anthony and Rachael Whitfield, outside the courtroom yesterday, before revealing their immense relief.

He said: "What they have been through has been extremely traumatic. They have been through the hearing, the verdict and now the sentencing. Now they want to move on with their lives. But they have a life sentence. It has caused devastation within the family.

"The family are relieved it is all completed. Now they want to move on and work for charity in Bradley's memory."

The killers, who had all been drinking to excess and had taken drugs, were returning to Carr's home, on Caldecote Road, Braunstone, when something sparked an altercation between them and Bradley.

Within moments, he was bleeding to death on the pavement.

He suffered multiple injuries in the attack, outside his old school, Fullhurst Community College, in Fosse Road South, including a fatal two-inch puncture wound to his neck, caused by the broken bottle.

During the melee, Faxon also sustained an horrendous 10cm cut to her face caused by Carr as he brandished the weapon.

Mrs Justice Dobbs handed the killers sentences totalling 38 years at Nottingham Crown Court.

Convicted drug-dealer Carr, who struck the fatal blow before kicking Bradley's head "like a football" as he lay dying, was given a life sentence for murder and ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years in prison.

Lewis Faulds, who was convicted of murder based on evidence that he held Bradley down as Carr attacked him, will be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure for at least nine years before he is eligible for parole.

Nicola Faulds and Faxon, of Aikman Avenue, New Parks, Leicester, who were both convicted of manslaughter for their lesser roles in the attack, were given eight and five years respectively.

All remained impassive in the dock as the sentences were passed.

Mrs Justice Dobbs told them that in all cases she did not believe there was any pre-meditation or intent to kill Bradley.

However, she said: "Your actions have had far-reaching implications, particularly for the family and friends of the deceased, who was clearly a well-loved youth."

She told Carr: "You were the person who wielded the bottle. You accepted responsibility for his death."

She told Lewis Faulds: "There's evidence that you were grabbing hold of Bradley while the older man was using the bottle on him. You were drunk and under the influence of drugs."

In mitigation, all defendants had expressed remorse. William Andrea-Jones QC, for Nicola Faulds, said: "One of the factors that will never leave her is that she is partially responsible for her son's predicament and she blames herself." However, the judge said, she had attempted to pervert the course of justice by urging others to lie.

She told Faxon she had "no comprehension of what you were involved with" and that she lacked emotional maturity. She said: "You were horribly drunk, and the casual way you described your regular drink binges and use of drugs from a young age were further evidence of your complete lack of awareness."

The two males will serve their minimum term before being considered for parole.

The two females are set to be released halfway through their terms.