Killer who murdered teenager then boasted 'don't worry, it's just another chav' jailed for life

A man who murdered a teenager and then boasted to friends after the attack 'don't worry - it's just another chav' was today jailed for life.

Terry Sewell, 20, who described himself as a 'goth', and his friend Darren Abrams attacked Jed Sheridan after a night out drinking in October, last year.

Abrams, 20, smashed a bottle over Mr Sheridan's head before Sewell repeatedly kicked him in the head as he lay on the ground.

Sewell's second kick caused Mr Sheridan, 19, to flip over on to his back and hit his head on the tarmac.

Police were called to the scene in the Hilsea area of Portsmouth, Hants, by residents who witnessed the incident.

Mr Sheridan was examined by paramedics who noticed a small cut to the top of his head but he insisted he did not want to go to hospital and just wanted to go to sleep.

He was taken to his home in Portsmouth by ambulance and put to bed by his mother but he then died in his sleep as a result of severe head injuries.

After he was arrested, Sewell told police he was part of a gang called the TSE Crew that went around beating up 'chavs'.

During the trial, the court was told that Abrams took his own life while on remand in prison last December, having also been charged with murder.

Today at Winchester Crown Court, Sewell bowed his head as Mr Justice Roderick Evans told him he would serve at least 13 years behind bars.

Mr Justice Evans said: 'This was the result of mindless drunken violence. It erupted when two groups of youths met by chance on a street in Portsmouth late one night.

'For some reason you (Sewell) and Darren Abrams had an unhealthy interest in fighting. I have no doubt at all that was the spark that set off this incident.

'It is the kind of stupid violence that decent people see as a blight on the streets of our towns and cities these days.

'The overwhelming sadness of this case is that Jed Sheridan was murdered and he was a peacemaker.

Victim: Jed Sheridan

'Darren Abrams hung himself in custody and you, a young man of 20, are convicted of murder and sentenced to custody for life.

'I accept that there was no intention to kill but there was an intention to do real serious harm.

'It was planned on the spur of the moment with Darren Abrams. You have been sentenced to 13 years minimum but you will be on licence for the rest of your life.'

Mr Sheridan was walking home with friends, Steve Smith, also 19, and Larry Leaver, 16, when they came across Abrams and Sewell just after midnight on October 26, last year.

Prosecutor Timothy Mousley QC told the jury that the next day Sewell bragged to friends that he had stamped on a man's head.

He told the court that Sewell said: 'Don't worry, it's just another chav',  Mr Mousley said:

'The defendant said he was not upset for Jed Sheridan because he had a strong disliking for chavs.

'He called himself a Goth. And he said he felt sorry for Jed Sheridan's family.'

Mr Mousley added: 'This was a joint attack on Jed Sheridan by Sewell and Abrams. They were both in it together.

'It involved the use of a bottle which was used to strike Mr Sheridan to the head and then repeated kicks after that or stamps. Both were involved and intended on causing really serious harm.'

The jury heard that Sewell and Abrams had been drinking since the early afternoon and had been to an under-18s disco that evening.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Sheridan had suffered a fractured skull during the attack.

Mr Mousley told the court he had also sustained a haemorrhage which had put pressure on his brain plus extensive bruising and swelling of the brain.

Speaking after the hearing, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Glyn White, said: 'It is just so sad for everybody involved.

'There are no winners or losers. We have got a tragic loss of a couple of lives and another one ruined by being sent to prison.'