Killer teens who slaughtered their victim ’like lions on prey’ are jailed for over 130 years

Bailey Atkinson, 21, was left in a pool of his own blood and a "Rambo" knife lodged in his shoulder in the brutal attack - he died in hospital hours later as his killers are jailed

A group of killer teenagers who ambushed their victim "like lions on prey" then sliced at him with a 9.4 inch-long Rambo knife have been locked up for more than 130 years.

Chilling CCTV footage captured the last moments of 21-year-old Bailey Atkinson’s life as he was chased in Walsall High Street on January 28, last year. He had been out with a female friend when his killers arrived in two stolen cars and gave chase. 

Unable to outrun his attackers, he was brutally set upon with the knife and left for dead in a pool of blood. The murder weapon was left lodged in his shoulder. "I’m going to die," Bailey mumbled as he lay dying in the deserted town centre. "Tell my mum I love her."

Bailey was left to die in a pool of his own blood ( Image: West Midlands Police / SWNS)

During the trial, jurors heard the attack was like "lions on prey." The harrowing attack was witnessed in part by Asda staff who had stepped outside for a break, BirminghamLive reported. They rushed to his aid as the slaughter came to an end, seconds after Bailey had wrenched the embedded blade from his body. 

When medics found him it was determined he was so badly wounded that they needed to perform open heart surgery at the scene. A total of seven killers were today locked up for his murder.

They had denied carrying out the vicious onslaught but were convicted by jurors in March. The killers were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court. The youth defendants cannot be named for legal reasons due to their age.

Bailey had tried to leave gang life behind him, a jury heard ( Image: Birmingham Live)

• Patrick Brookes, 18, of Hunter Crescent, Walsall, was detained for life, with a minimum term of 20 years, after being convicted of murder by a majority
• Ronan McCulloch, 19, of Livingstone Road, Bloxwich, was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 20 years, after being unanimously convicted of murder
• Sonny Loveridge, 20, of Irvine Road, Bloxwich, was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 23 years, after being unanimously convicted of murder
• Benjamin Wilkes, 18, of Guild Avenue, Bloxwich, was detained for life, with a minimum term of 18 years, after being unanimously convicted of murder
• One 17-year-old, from Walsall, was detained for life, with a minimum term of 19 years, after being unanimously convicted of murder

• A second 17-year-old, from Walsall, was detained for life, with a minimum term of 19 years, after being unanimously convicted of murder

• A 17-year-old, from Marston Green, was detained for life, with a minimum term of 19 years, after being convicted of murder by a majority

Ronan McCulloch, 18, (left) and Sonny Loveridge were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court

Nvaah Whitter, 18, of Innovation Way, Walsall, was acquitted of murder as well as an alternative charge of manslaughter. A 16-year-old from Wallsall was also acquitted of murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Bailey had moved to Walsall from Coventry two years before the attack in order to "escape a gang lifestyle," West Midlands Police said. CCTV footage played to jurors showed both cars passing Bailey as he walked with his friend toward market stalls in the early hours of January 28. The cars turned around before one - a Seat Leon - drove toward them. 

The 21-year-old then ran towards The Entertainer and Poundland shops as the woman ran in the opposite direction. One person got out of the Seat Leon while Bailey was standing outside Poundland.

The victim ran back towards the market stalls before clinging on to a lamppost as the Seat Leon drove towards him again. Moments later, he was recorded on the ground as his attackers surrounded him to "lay blows," the trial heard.

Gang members then raced back to the cars as Bailey was left bleeding on the ground. Both cars were then taken to grassland in another part of the town where they were dumped and "set alight". 

Officers spotted stab wounds across Bailey’s body - including to his back, arms and legs. The "Rambo" knife was found underneath the victim, who was initially conscious but bleeding heavily.

Bailey said "I can’t breathe" before his breathing stopped altogether and CPR was then performed by medics. He was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in nearby Birmingham but was pronounced dead at 2:55am.

Cuts were found on more than 30 areas of his body during a post-mortem, with stab wounds puncturing his lungs and severing an artery. he had 65 separate areas of bruises and abrasions, as well as "chop or slash-type injuries."

Emma Davis