Joshua Ingram's family urge young people to consider the 'devastating' consequences of knife crime

The family of 16-year-old Joshua Ingram have paid tribute to their "kind-hearted lad" after a teenager was found guilty of his murder over a £20 drug debt.

Joshua, from Newhaven, was stabbed twice at Seaford railway station on September 10, 2025, and died less than an hour later despite the efforts of members of the public and emergency services.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has today been convicted of Joshua's murder following a trial at Hove Crown Court.

In a statement, read out by DCI Paul Stanley following the verdict, Joshua's parents, Yvette Bullen and Dave Ingram, said no sentence could ever make up for the loss of their son.

"Whilst today's verdict brings a measure of justice to our family, it will never bring Josh back, and no sentence, however long, will ever replace the precious life that was stolen from him, or heal the devastating loss to our family," they said.

The family remembered Joshua as a "cheeky chappy" who had recently begun a bricklaying course at college and was excited about the future.

"This is a future life he will now never achieve. As a family, our lives changed forever that evening," they said.

They also urged young people to learn from Joshua's death, warning of the devastating impact of knife crime.

"We hope Josh's story serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime.

"This reckless behaviour devastates countless lives.

"So we urge young people to rethink, choose a different path in life, to avoid another family going through the pain and suffering we have, and will continue to do so for the rest of our lives."

The defendant had admitted manslaughter but denied murder, claiming the fatal stabbing had been a "tragic and reckless moment" and insisting he had never intended to kill or seriously injure Joshua.

However, prosecutors told the court the attack stemmed from an unpaid £20 cannabis debt.

Jurors heard the teenager, described by the prosecution as a "small-time drug dealer", had supplied Joshua with drugs during the summer of 2025 but had not been paid.

Messages recovered from Snapchat showed the defendant threatening Joshua before the attack, writing: "Josh will perish if I don't get my f** money, that's a fact and he knows this."

In another message, he said: "I'm ready to sit in a prison cell for 30 years over a £20 sheet."

Prosecutor Rossano Scamardella KC told jurors the teenager travelled to Seaford carrying a 19cm knife concealed in his tracksuit bottoms before approaching Joshua from behind and stabbing him twice.

"Joshua stood no chance," he said.

"The speed of the attack from behind gave him no chance to defend himself and the injury he sustained was so serious that he could not survive."

He added: "All of this over a £20 cannabis debt."

Joshua's friend, who witnessed the attack, told the jury he saw the defendant ask: "Is that Josh?" before stepping forward, pulling out a knife and stabbing him twice "with no hesitation".

"He looked very calm and just normal, but then just did that," the witness said.

"I don't think Josh even knew what had happened."

Joshua walked only a few steps before collapsing on the station platform as his friend called 999.

Jurors also heard the defendant had owned the knife since Year 9 and would "wave it around and playfully intimidate" people with it at home. During the attack, the blade penetrated 15cm into Joshua's body.

Two other boys, aged 17 and 15, were tried alongside the defendant on charges of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent between June 1 and September 11, 2025. Both were found not guilty of that offence.

The 15-year-old was found guilty of assisting an offender after the killing, while the 17-year-old had already admitted the same charge.

All three defendants are due to be sentenced on October 2.

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