An 18-year-old sent a barrage of desperate texts to his grandmother after he had stabbed the father of his ex-girlfriend to death. Levi Westhead had fled the scene after stabbing Mark Webster 12 times outside his family home in Carsluith Avenue, Blackpool.
During a confrontation between the pair, Westhead had been told to leave the property before grappling with the dad-of-two on the doorstep of his house.
LancsLive reports that Westhead, who lived with his grandmother in Flakefleet Avenue, Fleetwood, insisted he took the knife to the Webster's home to self harm, after being shunned by their teenage daughter.
Preston Crown Court heard how, while Mark Webster, known as Web, lay dying in the kitchen, Westhead hid in a nearby garden and tried desperately to contact his nan. He told her: "NAN. I LOVE YOU. I'M SORRY. I WAS ANGRY, SO ANGRY
"ANSWER THE CALL NOW, NAN, NAN, NAN"
Moments later, officers from Lancashire Police found Westhead and arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder. Mr Webster was rushed to hospital but despite the best efforts of doctors and paramedics, could not be saved.
He died from his injuries on July 23 2021 and the teenager was charged with his murder.
During the trial, the court heard Westhead had a difficult upbringing and was estranged from both his parents. He was immature for his age and according to consultant psychiatrist Dr Stephen Barlow was "effectively, still an adolescent."
"His adult personality is not yet developed or defined…", Dr Barlow said.
Sentencing him, Judge Simon Medland QC said: "Your conduct at the Webster’s house was as if you were living out the consequence-free conduct which you would have seen playing computer games over many isolated hours in your room at home. "
"You were at that short moment in a boiling rage – not so much against Mr Webster – but against life in general because you were being prevented from achieving your aim of getting to his daughter so that you could stage your dramatic outburst in front of her.
"You murdered a thoroughly decent family man who had never shown you anything but kindness and consideration who was heroically protecting his family in the private, gated back garden of the family home. "
Westhead will be 35 before he is eligible to apply for parole.
