News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

This is the moment a baby-faced gang chased a teenage rival into a launderette before they stabbed him to death.

Today the gang - four aged just 13 and 14 - were jailed for 54 years for the revenge murder of Sean McHugh, 19.

A judge lifted a restriction allowing Corey Hewitt, 13 Joseph McGill, 13, Keyfer Dykstra, 14 and Andrew Hewitt, 14, and Reese O'Shaughnessy, 19, to be named.

Victim Mr McHugh was cornered in a back room of the launderette as his attackers tried to crash down a door while he desperately tried to escape.

The baying gang armed themselves with knives, a broom handle and the walking cane sword, an antique-type martial arts weapon, which can today be pictured for the first time.

And the mob even used washing detergent, pouring it under the door to make Mr McHugh slip, and become 'easy prey.'

The attack in Anfield, Liverpool, last September, was a revenge assault after Dykstra was stabbed by an unknown assailant thought to be from a rival gang weeks earlier.

Vicious O'Shaughnessy must serve a minimum of 18 years and Dykstra who charged at McHugh armed with a knife, was jailed for a minimum of 12 years.

He had posted a cruel taunt on Facebook saying, 'RIP Shorty - we always knew ye was a p****' after McHugh died from his injuries four days after being stabbed.

Joseph Magill, 13 when he took part in the murder, wailed in the dock as he was sentenced to a minimum of nine years.

Corey Hewitt, 14, who was also just 13 when the crime was committed, was jailed for a minimum of six years and Andrew Hewitt, 15, was jailed for a minimum of nine years.

Recorder of Liverpool Clement Goldstone QC called the murder of Sean McHugh 'truly wicked'.

He also told the gang: "Your fascination with knives is part of your way of life."

Mother Lorraine McHugh, 55, and his heartbroken girlfriend, Stephanie Crawford, said: "The night they killed my son, they might as well have killed me too.

"I rarely go out without ending up in floods of tears. Me and his dad never thought we would be burying one of our sons.

"All we have is memories, I can't sleep, I can't face going back to work, I can't go to the shops without breaking down.

"I hope the defendants realise what they've done and get what they deserve."

She also blasted her son's killers for 'laughing and smirking' during the trial and said they had 'no respect'.

The court heard O'Shaughnessy has an IQ of an 11-year-old boy and poor social skills while McGill's intelligence level was in the bottom four per cent for his age.

The knife blow severed the femeral artery and four days later, Mr McHugh died from his injuries in hospital.

After the fatal attack, one of the boys asked on Facebook: "That kid dead haha?"

Recorder Goldstone QC added: "This attack started as a marauding mob chasing two others through the street.

"Members of the public saw some of what happened and were horrified and shocked by it.

"They were from Walton and were to a greater or lesser extent affiliated to the Walton Village gang who were sworn enemies of the Laneheads gang of which you were all enthusiastic card carrying and fully paid senior and junior members.

"They were on what you perceived to be your territory.

"Had you shown true and early remorse the anguish now felt by his mother, brother and girlfriend might have been slightly lessened.

"The real life sentence is that which you have imposed on Sean McHugh's family for which Christmas or birthdays will never be the same again."