A teenager who was found in a Kent town after stabbing 15-year-old boy with a machete has been found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.

Jay Hughes, 15, was murdered outside a chicken shop in London in November 2018 after three youths, armed with blades, jumped out of a black Ford Galaxy and ran towards him and a friend.

His friend ran off and was pursued by two of the armed males.

The remaining attacker, a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, approached Mr Hughes and stabbed him in the chest once, piercing his heart.

The defendant's home address in Penge was tracked down by detectives from the Met Police's Homicide and Specialist Crime Command who identified the car through the chicken shops CCTV.

However, when they went to execute a warrant on Friday November 23 they realised he had fled the area.

The 17-year-old was on the run for more than two weeks but was arrested in Gravesend on Monday December 10 after an officer recognised him as he walked along the street.

"The defendant wickedly approached and stabbed a defenceless child through the heart." - Detective Inspector David Hillier

When detained by police a large hunting knife was found in the waistband of his trousers and he was further arrested for possession of a bladed article and later charged.

He will be sentenced on Friday August 2 at the London court.

Three other people have been in arrested in connection with the investigation, including a 21-year-old woman, arrested on November 21 2018, a 16-year-old boy, arrested on March 20 and a 17-year-old boy, arrested on April 21.

All were released under investigation.

Detective Inspector David Hillier from the Met’s Homicide Command said: “Jay Hughes was just a 15-year-old child who was simply waiting for a friend and planning to spend the evening at a youth club; this could have been anyone’s child that evening. What Jay did not know, was that at that moment the defendant had armed himself with a knife and set out with others to do violence.

“Jay was talking to a friend when the events unfolded around him. Witnesses later told police he did nothing to provoke the attack, he did not even run. I doubt Jay really understood what was happening in front of him.

“The defendant wickedly approached and stabbed a defenceless child through the heart. A witness heard him boast that he had ‘got one’ and I am at loss to understand how anyone could crow about such a despicable act.

“The defendant then fled the scene, leaving a dying child and a family that has been devastated by a loss that is beyond imagining. However, we were determined to bring the person responsible for Jay’s murder to justice.

“The defendant was tracked down and arrested. Even after all the horror he inflicted with a weapon, a large hunting knife was found in the waistband of his trousers, even after stabbing a young child to death.

"The defendant throughout the trail denied his involvement claiming he did not know where he was that day. The jury saw through this and found him guilty of this heinous act. Even at the verdict, the defendant did not show any remorse.

“My heart goes out to Jay’s family and I can only hope that this guilty verdict will help in some small way.

“Lastly I would also like thank those people who came to Jay’s aid. Many people came to Jay’s aid that night and it is important that when wickedness has been done, the good that lies within a community is not forgotten.”

For the latest crime stories, click here

Read more: All the latest Gravesend news