'Best friend' jailed after father-of-three, 23, was stabbed to death in revenge attack after he had robbed his brother at knifepoint

A knifeman has been jailed for life for stabbing a father-of-three to death in a revenge attack for robbing his brother.

Gavin Train, 24, plunged a blade into the side of his 'best friend' Bradley Tams, 23, in Cartmel Green, Slatyford, Newcastle, on December 6 last year. 

Mr Tams was found by officers lying on the ground of a first floor block of flats covered in blood. He died in an ambulance at 12.27am.

The killer had chillingly vowed to 'put him in an early grave' after he found out Mr Tams had robbed his older brother David Keith at knifepoint just days earlier, in which he stole his phone and bank card. 

Northumbria Police said Train 'sought retribution for a previous dispute and was notified that Mr Tams was in the area that night'. 

The court heard Train was travelling in a Peugeot 206 being driven by his mother Andrea Train which was following a taxi Mr Tams was in.

When it stopped, the car pulled up behind where Train and his friend Lewis Allison, 24, dragged Mr Tams out of the taxi. 

CCTV and footage recorded by a child on their mobile phone captured Andrea egging on her son as she screamed 'just do him in' and 'that's it, hit him, do him, do him', reported the Chronicle Live. 

Train then stabbed Mr Tams in his torso who had earlier pleaded that he did not want to have a fight when there was a knife involved. 

The thugs then all left Mr Tams for dead as they fled the scene in Andrea's Peugeot 206.

After being arrested, Train said: 'I've made one stupid mistake and it's just cost me my whole life.'

David Lamb KC, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: 'Gavin Train told Lewis Allison he was going to put the kid in an early grave.

'He also messaged Bradley himself and repeated the threat to put him in an early grave.'

Train, of Rothay Place, had admitted at an earlier hearing to murdering Mr Tams.

He was jailed for life and told he must serve a minimum of 21 years behind bars.  

Addressing Train, Judge Penny Moreland said: 'You were determined no one should mess with your brother and you said you would put him in an early grave. 

'You intended to find him, confront him and subject him to unlawful violence.'

Andrea, 49, also of Rothay Place, and Allison, 24, of Roundhill Avenue, Blakelaw, were each jailed for three years and four months having both pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Allison will serve a further six months for a separate offence of breaching a community order.       

In an emotional tribute following the sentencing, Mr Tams' mother Julie Weatherson told of how a 'part of me died when Bradley died' and said: 'My heart feels like it's been broken into a million pieces.' 

She said: 'My life changed forever when Bradley was born. I cannot describe the love I felt when he was first placed into my arms.

'From a young age, Bradley was full of character and always had lots of friends. I would describe Bradley as the life and soul of the party and always the joker.

'He loved and adored his family and would do anything for us.

'Since Bradley was taken from me, my life has not been the same. I am not the same person – a part of me died when Bradley died.

'Every day is a struggle for me, but I know that I have to be strong for the sake of my other children. All of them are hurting and grieving the loss of their brother.

'This hurts me when I see how much pain they are in.

'No parent should ever have to experience the death of their child and arrange their funeral. My heart feels like it's been broken into a million pieces.

'I'd give anything to be able to speak to my beautiful boy one last time.'

She added: 'Bradley wasn't a saint and did have his own issues prior to his death but I always knew how much he loved and cared for me.

'People say that time is a healer, but I am yet to experience this. I miss my handsome boy every second of every day.'

His eldest sister Lauren Weatherson described the family's heartbreak following his death at the hands of those he would have classed as his 'best friends'.

'Bradley was the closest thing I had left of my father,' she said. 'My brother and I grew up side by side having only 14 months between us. He lit up every room he stepped in, he was always so full of life.

'My nights have become sleepless, my days have become tiresome. I am constantly thinking about my brother's last moments in life and the pain he would have felt physically and emotionally.

'Any homicide would be difficult to get past but the people responsible in my brother's case makes this a whole lot worse. My brother was killed by people he would have called his best friends.

'I am not the same person anymore, no one in my family is. We are all broken.

'One thing I wish for in the future is for these people to think about their actions so that another family doesn't have to go through the pain and grief my family and I have.'

Detective Chief Inspector Katie Smith said 'no sentence will erase the heartbreak of losing a beloved son, brother and father'.

DCI Smith added: 'There is zero justification for the course of events which led to Bradley's death, and Gavin Train's decision to arm himself that night has unfortunately had fatal consequences.

'That decision to carry a weapon is the reason Bradley is no longer with us, and as a Force this case once again reflects our clear message to those who carry knives and choose to involve themselves in violence.

'Violence destroys lives and has no place in our communities, and we would urge you to think again not just for yourself, but for your family and loved ones too.'