Latest news with #TheRealAdolescence:OurKillerKids
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Teen murder plot dubbed 'real Adolescence' from sick voice notes to final hours
Teen Olly Stephens, 13, was lured to a park and murdered by two boys after a social media feud erupted into one of the most horrific youth crimes that shocked the nation It was a cold, quiet Sunday in January 2021 when 13-year-old Olly Stephens left his family home in Emmer Green, Reading, telling his mum he was heading out to meet a friend. Just 15 minutes later, he was dying in a field - ambushed, beaten, and stabbed in a horrifyingly calculated attack that would shake the nation. The chilling case was revisited in a harrowing BBC documentary The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids this week. Dubbed 'The Real Adolescence' for its shocking insight into teenage violence fuelled by social media and groupthink, Olly's murder was a brutal turning point in youth crimes. Behind the senseless killing was a twisted revenge plot orchestrated through voice notes, text messages, and a dangerous desire to 'pattern' a peer - a disturbing online trend where children film and share assaults to humiliate their victims. Olly, a kind-hearted boy described by his family as 'loving' and someone who always 'stood up for the underdog,' had recently discovered a video in a Snapchat group showing a younger child being humiliated. True to his character, he shared the footage with his older brother, hoping to protect the victim. But in the eyes of two boys in the group - aged just 13 and 14 - Olly had committed the ultimate betrayal. He was a "snitch." And for that, they plotted to kill him. In voice notes later recovered by police, the level of malice is chilling. 'I actually hate the kid with a passion, like if I was to see him right now I'll probably end up killing him or something…' said the older boy. The girl who helped orchestrate the plan - a 13-year-old who knew Olly in real life - was disturbingly enthusiastic about the impending attack. 'I'm so excited you don't understand,' she said in one message, after arranging to lure Olly to the scene. Olly, who had been recently diagnosed with autism, had no idea what lay ahead when he made his way to Bugs Bottom, a field close to his home. He believed he was going to meet a friend. Instead, he was set up. The boys were lying in wait. First, they punched him. Then, one of them pulled out a knife and stabbed him multiple times - in the chest and back - before fleeing with the girl. A passing nurse tried to save him, as did paramedics, but Olly died in the ambulance before reaching the hospital. The aftermath was every parent's worst nightmare. When a boy Olly knew knocked on the door to tell them something had happened, his dad Stuart sprinted to the park barefoot. The scene was indescribable. 'I just remember the faces - everyone turning and looking at me and the horror just written on their faces,' Stuart told the Mail Online. 'I was kneeling in his blood, so I knew he had lost a lot of blood. Once I held his hand I knew he had gone.' His mother Amanda recalled the moment Stuart collapsed at the scene, screaming, 'My boy, my boy.' Her son, just 13, was gone. The investigation that followed was massive. More than 200 police officers worked on the case, with Detective Chief Inspector Andy Howard calling it 'one of the most shocking' of his career. In the digital age, the killers had left a trail of evidence behind. A staggering 90 percent of the evidence used to convict the teens came from mobile phones - voice messages, texts, and social media activity documenting the murder from planning to aftermath. One message from the older boy read: 'Boy it was me and my boy innit. I started slapping him up and then my boy backed out and then **** shanked him.' The younger boy later messaged a friend, admitting: 'It was the biggest mistake of my life… I did it out of pure anger.' Despite their denials, the boys were found guilty of murder at Reading Crown Court in the summer of 2021. The older was sentenced to at least 12 years, the younger to a minimum of 13. The girl - who had admitted manslaughter and perverting the course of justice - was initially sentenced to just over three years. But after public outcry, her sentence was deemed too lenient and was later increased to five years. During sentencing, Judge Heather Norton offered a scathing assessment: 'Because of some online petty argument the three of you acted together to plan an attack... You have taken one life and damaged your futures and have caused so much pain to so many.' Olly's father Stuart continues to speak publicly about his son, hoping to honour his memory while warning other families of the dangers lurking behind screens. 'Olly trusted people too much, it was part of his make-up, it was part of his autism - that's why we loved him. He knew no sense of danger.' Olly's death, and the disturbing detail of how it was orchestrated and celebrated on social media, has been dubbed "The Real Adolescence" after the hit Netflix show was praised for raising awareness into these kinds of crimes.
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
'Adolescence was really good but didn't show the devastation caused to victims'
A new documentary on C5 looks at the rise in murder convictions for 12-17 year olds in the UK. We spoke to the mother of one young knife victim who is determined to prevent more kids being killed Nearly two years on from losing her son Mikey Roynon, his mother is still in shock. Hayley Ryall's beloved boy was just 16 when he went to a birthday party at a house in Bath and didn't come home. For on June 10 2023, the much-loved teenager was stabbed with a zombie-style knife and died from a single 9.5cm (3.7in) wound to his neck. Upwards of 70 kids had travelled from Bristol, Bath and further afield to the party and Shane Cunningham, 16, was later detained for life for Mikey's murder with his two friends, Leo Knight and Cartel Bushnell, also 16, jailed for manslaughter. Mikey didn't know the trio, who were pictured travelling from Wiltshire to Bath with what appeared to be sharp objects visible underneath their clothing. "I miss everything about him," said Hayley. "I miss doing his washing, i even miss telling him off for being late. "I miss the mess, I miss cooking for him, I miss that terribly. everything. I just miss the noise in the house. I miss Christmas because we don't have that anymore, I miss birthdays, I miss everything." Hayley was working in Birmingham at the time of her son's death, with 37 missed calls on her phone before Mikey's friend alerted to what had happened, leaving her facing a three hour taxi ride back to Bristol as she prayed he would be ok. "Every day i wake up in the morning and i still feel in shock," she said. "People say time heals but it doesn't get easier. I have a big wall up where I feel like if I talk about him and go in his bedroom, I can feel him around me and he's still here." Hayley describes her son as "completely fearless" and "a lot of fun". "He liked playing lots of jokes on me," she said. "He was always excited, he was happy. He told me he loved me about 30 times a day. That was the last thing he said to me: 'Love you Mum'." A district manager for Slimming World, the bereaved mother is appearing in tonight's C5 documentary The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids, which explores the rise in murder convictions for 12-17 year olds in the UK, focusing on the experiences of families affected by these crimes. The hit Netflix four-part series that inspired the show's name, Adolescence, attracted more than 24 million viewers. Starring Stephen Graham, the drama follows 13-year-old Jamie, who is accused of murdering his female classmate. "I thought it was very very good, i just felt like there could have been more towards the victim's family," said Hayley. "It was all about the boy that did it and his family but it didn't show the devastation that causes to the community around that." The statistics are harrowing. The number of children convicted of murder between 2016 and 2024 rose by more than 300 per cent. Information published by the Office for National Statistics earlier this year found teenager homicide victims in England and Wales were far more likely to have been stabbed to death than any other group - 83 per cent were killed with a sharp instrument. Zombie-style knives and machetes, including the one that was used to kill Mikey are defined as weapons with blades over eight inches in length, normally with a serrated cutting edge. Last year, they were banned in England and Wales. Mum Hayley had thought knife crime was "something that happened in London, in big major cities, not where we live," before it affected her family. "Not that you could go to a 16th birthday and have this happen," she said. "The reason I'm speaking in the documentary is because I wish I'd known more two years ago - if it saves one person's life it's worth it. "If it gets the message out to stop one young person carrying a knife, it's worth it. We need to stop the epidemic of knife crime." "We have to change how the next generation - it can't keep getting worse," Hayley added. "It is important because kids are killing kids." The TV show Adolescence explores how technology, particularly social media, influences the lives of young people with toxic masculinity and online abuse at the forefront. It also takes a wider look at the pressures faced by boys in Britain today. "These kids have to deal with at such a young age with technology - it's not the real world," said Hayley. "We need to be checking in and asking 'are you ok?'." In May last year Mikey's murderer Cunningham was ordered to serve a life sentence, with a minimum of 16 years behind bars, at Bristol Crown Court. His friend Bushnell was detained for nine years and Knight for nine years and six months. "The court case was horrific to go through, to have to sit with those boys in a room," said Hayley. "We were not even allowed to look at them. Getting justice for Mikey, it made a tiny difference but it won't change the fact that it ruined our lives." Hayley and her partner Scott, a 48-year-old insurance manager, have formed the charity Mikey's World, which has teamed up with her local police force and ambulance service to install specialist first-aid kits, which contain emergency dressings and tourniquets to stop catastrophic bleeding, around her son's hometown. The organisation is also partnering with a technology company to offer virtual reality headset experiences which allow people to step into the shoes of victims of knife crime and beyond. "We want to take that into schools to prevent knife crime and raise the awareness of gangs," said Hayley. "I've not watched the knife crime one yet because it's just too difficult."
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Who are Mikey Roynon's killers Shane Cunningham, Cartel Bushnell and Leo Knight and where are they now?
MIKEY Roynon was a talented teenage drill rapper whose life was tragically cut short when an altercation broke out at a 16th birthday party. The horrific crime is featured in C5's The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids, which explores the devastating impact of youth violence in the UK. 6 Mikey Roynon was stabbed to death a the age of 16, and three 16-year-olds were imprisoned for the crime Credit: GoFundMe Who Was Mike Roynon? Mikey Roynon was a 16-year-old from Kingswood, near Bristol, who was tragically murdered at a party in June 2023. He had a passion for music, particularly drill, and released tracks that gained popularity online, including a viral hit titled Oh Dear. Despite his mother's concerns about the dangerous drill scene, Mikey reassured her that it was just music. The teen's ex-girlfriend Chyna-Lei Patterson told The Sun: 'He was such a lovely polite boy and was loved by loads of people. "His memory will be cherished by everyone who came across him and I'm just devastated at his loss. "He was a really talented musician and dreamed of making a career as a rapper. "Everyone who knew him is devastated." Zombie knife attack On the night of June 10, 2023, Mikey attended a 16th birthday party in Bath, where he was fatally stabbed in the neck with a zombie knife during a confrontation in the garden. He had been on a day trip in the Somerset city and was eating at a Nando's restaurant when one of his friends heard about the bash on social media. The youngsters decided to go along the the party 'on a whim'. Locals said that the gathering was crashed by a group of 200 revellers and soon got out of hand. The horrific murder led to a high-profile trial at Bristol Youth Court, with three teenage boys in the dock. Shane Cunningham 6 Shane Cunningham was convicted of murder Credit: PA Shane Cunningham, 16, was identified as the boy who delivered the fatal stab wound. During the trial, he admitted to stabbing Mikey, but claimed it was in self-defence — a claim the jury rejected. Cunningham was found guilty of murder and detained for life, with a minimum of 16 years before being eligible for parole. Cartel Bushnell 6 Cartel Bushnell was found guilty of manslaughter Credit: Avon and Somerset Police Cartel Bushnell, 16, was found guilty of manslaughter. He admitted bringing a knife to the party and was involved in the events leading to Mikey's death. While Bushnell was acquitted of murder, he got nine years and six months, and will be eligible for parole after serving at least two-thirds of his sentence. Leo Knight 6 Leo Knight was also convicted of manslaughter Credit: Avon and Somerset Police The third teenager, Leo Knight, 16, was also convicted of manslaughter. Unlike the others, he denied having a knife, but CCTV and forensic evidence linked him to the crime. Knight was also found guilty of possessing a bladed article and got nine years and six months behind bars, and will be eligible for parole after serving at least two-thirds of his sentence as well. All three boys were from the Wiltshire and Dorset areas, and had travelled to Bath for the party armed with knives. CCTV footage captured them discussing the incident and disposing of their weapons after fleeing the scene. 6 The knife used to kill Mikey was later recovered from a drain Credit: Avon and Somerset Police The Honourable Mr Justice Saini, who presided over the sentencing, lifted previous reporting restrictions, allowing the boys to be named publicly due to the gravity of the crime and public interest. Mikey's mum Hayley Ryall said: 'Every morning I wake up and it hurts as much as the last morning. "I keep having awful dreams that Mikey is lost and I'm looking for him, but even the awful dreams are better than waking up to reality. "At least in my dreams he is somewhere, whereas in reality he is gone.' The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids The Channel 5 documentary The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids features Mikey's tragic case, as well as those of other young victims of peer violence. 6 The gang of teenagers seen on bus CCTV with a zombie knife moments before killing Mikey Roynan Credit: Supplied The programme includes interviews with bereaved families, experts in youth crime and campaigners. Shedding light on the rise in murder convictions among 12 to 17-year-olds in the UK, the doc stresses the urgent need for preventative measures, as well as support for affected families. Executive producer Daniel Smith said: 'Child killers is a horrific topic that has been brought back to the top of the agenda by Adolescence, but this documentary is real life. "We want to thank all the contributors for sharing their personal stories and hope that by bringing them together, we have focussed on the shattering impact of these crimes and included experts to suggest how they might be prevented.' Commissioning editor Dan Louw said: 'This is a shocking and sobering film about a national emergency, and I challenge every parent to watch it. "For years we've written off growing levels of youth violence as a mere 'moral panic', but this film demonstrates that this approach is failing our kids, and victims of violence.' The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids airs on Channel 5 at 10pm on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Who was Rohan Shand aka Fred and what happened to him?
Find out where and when you can catch the true crime doc about the tragic case 'missing him every day' Who was Rohan Shand aka Fred and what happened to him? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ROHAN Shand was just 16 when he was murdered "over foolishness" on his way home from school in March 2023. The senseless crime is featured in C5's The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids, which explores the devastating impact of youth violence in the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Rohan Shand Snr, the father of murdered teenager Rohan 'Fred' Shand, said he has 'lost everything' Credit: Supplied 4 Rohan Shand was fatally stabbed in Northampton in March 2023 Credit: PA Who was Rohan Shand? Rohan Shand, affectionately known as Fred, was a 16-year-old schoolboy from Northampton, England. He was described by his family and friends as a wonderful young man whose life was tragically cut short by knife crime in March 2023. Ahead of his funeral, Fred's family released a statement saying his death had "left everyone who knew Fred totally devastated and heartbroken". It continued: 'Fred was a loving and kind person, who was respectful to people of all ages. "He was also such a witty person who knew exactly what to say or do to put a big smile on our faces and was just a fun person to be around. 'He was like his dad's fifth sense as Fred was the one who took care of all online activities, from ordering the shopping to helping with banking. "But this was just one way he helped his dad as we feel his loss in so many ways, missing him every day." Senseless murder On March 22, 2023, Fred was stabbed to death on his way home from school in the Kingsthorpe area of Northampton. The attack took place near the Cock Hotel on Harborough Road shortly after 3.30pm. Emergency services responded, but despite their efforts Fred died from his injuries. Idris Elba hopes football will lower knife crime as Arsenal wear white kits vs Nottingham Forest as part of campaign The perpetrator, a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested and later convicted of Fred's murder. After a four-week trial at Northampton Crown Court, the boy was found guilty and sentenced to 13 years in a Young Offenders Institute. 'When I lose my son, it's like I lose my life' Fred's father, Rohan Shand Sr, has spoken powerfully about the emotional toll his son's murder has taken on his family. In the days following the senseless crime, a vigil was held in Fred's memory, during which Fred's dad said his son had been killed "over foolishness... I don't even know what my son died for". When I lose my son, it's like I lose my life, I lose everything, the trauma is still there Rohan Shand Snr Driven by his grief and determination to prevent similar tragedies, Mr Shand Snr is planning to establish an anti-knife crime foundation. He said he wanted to show youngsters "we don't need you lot to carry knives, because you don't need knives" and that "a knife is for cooking". Mr Shand Snr said: 'If you have a problem, or you feel scared, go to someone and try and talk to somebody big, who can approach the person and try to get whatever difference you have, and squash it right there. "No-one will lose their life." 4 Grieving family, friends and classmates left balloons, flowers and notes at the scene of the crime Credit: SWNS "I'm begging them please to put down the knife, because they don't know the trauma.' At a memorial service marking the two-year anniversary of Fred's death, Mr Shand Snr said: "When I lose my son, it's like I lose my life, I lose everything, the trauma is still there. "Looking at my son and the picture on the wall and all these things, I know [I'm] not going to get any grandchildren. It's just too much." He hopes to raise awareness about the devastating effects of knife crime and to push for immediate action to protect other families from experiencing such devastating trauma. The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids The Channel 5 documentary The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids features Fred's tragic case, as well as those of other young victims of peer violence. 4 Rohan Shand Snr plans to establish an anti-knife crime foundation Credit: Supplied The programme includes interviews with bereaved families, experts in youth crime and campaigners. Shedding light on the rise in murder convictions among 12 to 17-year-olds in the UK, the doc stresses the urgent need for preventative measures, as well as support for affected families. Executive producer Daniel Smith said: 'Child killers is a horrific topic that has been brought back to the top of the agenda by Adolescence, but this documentary is real life. "We want to thank all the contributors for sharing their personal stories and hope that by bringing them together, we have focussed on the shattering impact of these crimes and included experts to suggest how they might be prevented.' Commissioning editor Dan Louw said: 'This is a shocking and sobering film about a national emergency, and I challenge every parent to watch it. "For years we've written off growing levels of youth violence as a mere 'moral panic', but this film demonstrates that this approach is failing our kids, and victims of violence.' The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids airs on Channel 5 at 10pm on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Who was Rohan Shand aka Fred and what happened to him?
ROHAN Shand was just 16 when he was murdered "over foolishness" on his way home from school in March 2023. The senseless crime is featured in C5's The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids, which explores the Advertisement 4 Rohan Shand Snr, the father of murdered teenager Rohan 'Fred' Shand, said he has 'lost everything' Credit: Supplied 4 Rohan Shand was fatally stabbed in Northampton in March 2023 Credit: PA Who was Rohan Shand? Rohan Shand, affectionately known as Fred, was a 16-year-old schoolboy from Northampton, England. He was described by his family and friends as a wonderful young man whose Ahead of his funeral, Fred's family released a statement saying his death had "left everyone who knew Fred totally devastated and heartbroken". It continued: 'Fred was a loving and kind person, who was respectful to people of all ages. Advertisement read more on rohan shand "He was also such a witty person who knew exactly what to say or do to put a big smile on our faces and was just a fun person to be around. 'He was like his dad's fifth sense as Fred was the one who took care of all online activities, from ordering the shopping to helping with banking. "But this was just one way he helped his dad as we feel his loss in so many ways, missing him every day." Senseless murder On March 22, 2023, Fred was stabbed to death on his way home from school in the Kingsthorpe area of Northampton. Advertisement Most read in The Sun The attack took place near the Cock Hotel on Harborough Road shortly after 3.30pm. Emergency services responded, but despite their efforts Fred died from his injuries. Idris Elba hopes football will lower knife crime as Arsenal wear white kits vs Nottingham Forest as part of campaign The perpetrator, a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested and later convicted of Fred's murder. After a four-week trial at Northampton Crown Court, the boy was found guilty and Advertisement 'When I lose my son, it's like I lose my life' Fred's father, Rohan Shand Sr, has spoken powerfully about the emotional toll his son's murder has taken on his family. In the days following the senseless crime, a vigil was held in Fred's memory, during which Fred's dad said his son had been killed "over foolishness... I don't even know what my son died for". When I lose my son, it's like I lose my life, I lose everything, the trauma is still there Rohan Shand Snr Driven by his grief and determination to prevent similar tragedies, Mr Shand Snr is planning to establish an anti-knife crime foundation. He said he wanted to show youngsters "we don't need you lot to carry knives, because you don't need knives" and that "a knife is for cooking". Advertisement Mr Shand Snr said: 'If you have a problem, or you feel scared, go to someone and try and talk to somebody big, who can approach the person and try to get whatever difference you have, and squash it right there. "No-one will lose their life." 4 Grieving family, friends and classmates left balloons, flowers and notes at the scene of the crime Credit: SWNS "I'm begging them please to put down the knife, because they don't know the trauma.' Advertisement At a memorial service marking the two-year anniversary of Fred's death, Mr Shand Snr said: "When I lose my son, it's like I lose my life, I lose everything, the trauma is still there. "Looking at my son and the picture on the wall and all these things, I know [I'm] not going to get any grandchildren. It's just too much." He hopes to raise awareness about the devastating effects of knife crime and to push for immediate action to protect other families from experiencing such devastating trauma. The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids The Advertisement 4 Rohan Shand Snr plans to establish an anti-knife crime foundation Credit: Supplied The programme includes interviews with bereaved families, experts in youth crime and campaigners. Shedding light on the rise in murder convictions among 12 to 17-year-olds in the UK, the doc stresses the urgent need for preventative measures, as well as support for affected families. Executive producer Daniel Smith said: ' Child killers is a horrific topic that has been brought back to the top of the agenda by Adolescence, but this documentary is real life. Advertisement "We want to thank all the contributors for sharing their personal stories and hope that by bringing them together, we have focussed on the shattering impact of these crimes and included experts to suggest how they might be prevented.' Commissioning editor Dan Louw said: 'This is a shocking and sobering film about a national emergency, and I challenge every parent to watch it. "For years we've written off growing levels of youth violence as a mere 'moral panic', but this film demonstrates that this approach is failing our kids, and victims of violence.' The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids airs on Channel 5 at 10pm on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Advertisement
