Royal Academy artist's son jailed indefinitely for knifing friend in taxi fare fight

Louis Chambers, 19, whose father Stephen is a painter and member of the Royal Academy, attacked 21-year-old Dylan Bates-Fox at a disused warehouse used as a squat in Bethnal Green.

Mr Bates-Fox, who had ambitions of becoming an artist, was knifed in the chest and arm during the early hours of a morning in July last year.

Judge Roger Chapple set the minimum period before he could apply to the parole board to be released at four years.

But he warned he Chambers he was "a dangeorus young man" and was likely to remain in jail for "a long time."

The judge said Chambers had used "phenomenal force" in stabbing his friend who had subjected him to substantial provocation.

He had had mental problems since the age of nine and a history of violence since he was 17.

Sent to a mental hospital for assessment he twice attacked staff in serious incidents which required the police being called.

"You will remain in prison for as long as you remain a danger to the public and in your case I think it will be a long time," said the judge.

He described the victim Dylan Bates-fox as having a bright future as an artist. Three months after he was killed his family found that he had been accepted for a place at university.

Oliver Glasgow, prosecuting, told the court: "Chambers had a drug habit and a nasty temper. Witnesses say that when angry he can become really destructive and regularly carried a knife."

Chambers had returned to the squat with Mr Bates-Fox and his girlfriend from a party and all three were affected "by drink, drugs or both". He paid for the taxi but a row broke out over the couple's failure to repay their share.

Chambers said he was attacked first. After running fights he stabbed Mr Bates-Fox in the chest. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter by "reason of provocation".

Witnesses described Chambers as acting "completely crazy". Police and paramedics found Mr Bates-Fox wounded and Chambers, who was also bleeding, told them "I did it, arrest me." He told police he was threatened with a champagne bottle, attacked with iron bars and lashed out in self defence.

Mr Bates-Fox, of Hanwell, was taken to hospital and pronounced dead at 4am.

His father, David Fox, today said his son was talented and loving. "It would be easy to conclude he was another casualty of degenerative youth culture but those glib generalisations speak of nothing but fears and prejudices."