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A baby-faced teenager who stabbed a stranger to death in the street during row over bins being kicked over has been jailed for life.

Cameron Martin-Leon was just a 16-year-old boy when he plunged a blade into the chest of 22-year-old Alex Leonard leaving him fatally injured.

Mr Leonard had confronted the schoolboy outside his girlfriend's home where Martin-Leon had been shouting, swearing and kicking over her bins.

The boy, who had been drinking vodka and inhaling laughing gas earlier in the evening, responded by stabbing Mr Leonard through the heart in Bartley Green, Birmingham.

A court heard how Martin-Leon had bragged to pals about the knife he was carrying calling it his "Big Ting", adding: "I will stab someone".

Martin-Leon, now 17, was found guilty of murder following a trial and a judge has now lifted reporting restrictions and allowed him to be named.

(Image: PA)

Yesterday, he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 14 years at at Birmingham Crown Court.

His trial was told how the Martin-Leon reacted aggressively after being approached by Mr Leonard's girlfriend.

She asked him not to damage her car after Martin-Leon was heard saying he felt like "smashing it up".

When Mr Leonard then challenged the thug about his behaviour he was stabbed once in the chest at around midnight.

He managed to return home and told his girlfriend to call an ambulance before collapsing in the front garden.

Following the case, Mr Leonard's family said in a statement: "Lives have been destroyed and families traumatised. Life as we knew it ceased to be on July 3, 2017.

"Two mothers have had their dreams and aspirations for their sons shattered and broken as are our hearts and the hearts of everyone who knew Alex."

"There currently seems to be an epidemic of knife crime sweeping through our communities, we are living within a culture of fear.

"Children are carrying knives through fear of what might happen or what has happened to them or a member of their families.

"Whatever the reason behind this epidemic, be it social, economic, ADHD, fear or pressure, it is clear that not enough is being done about it on a local level or a national level.

"Where is the government's support for our police forces to support communities and those who try to make a better world?"

Detective Inspector Caroline Corfield, from the force’s Homicide Unit, said: "This case has been a tragic reminder of the dangers of anyone carrying a knife.

"This was a dreadful escalation of events which led to one young man losing his life while another faces a life sentence.

"Our thoughts are with their families who’s lives are also devastated by these tragic events."

DI Corfield added: “We are working tirelessly to understand the reasons why young people carry knives.

"We work closely with schools and parents to educate, as we continue to bring offenders to justice.

"Anyone found in possession of a knife faces the real possibility of ending up behind bars.

“We understand people’s concerns around violent crime and the effect it can have on communities.

"While it makes up a very small proportion of overall crime, we appreciate the disproportionate impact it has on people’s quality of life and feelings of safety.

“If people do suspect someone is carrying a knife in public, or have any concerns relating to knife crime in their community, then we want to hear from them - they can call us on 101 or contact their local neighbourhood police team via our website."