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A schoolboy obsessed with serial killers who stabbed two strangers to death has been found guilty on two counts of murder.

The identity of James Fairweather can now be revealed after a jury returned their verdict.

He was just 15 when he carried out the horrific attacks on dad James Attfield and student Nahid Almanea in Colchester in 2014.

Cops caught him hiding in the bushes near the scene of his second killing waiting for a third victim last May.

A dog-walker alerted police after she became concerned by his suspicious behaviour.

Essex Police today released a chilling image of Fairweather when he arrived back at the police station.

He was wearing surgical gloves and a distinctive coat which had featured in appeals.

(Image: Essex police)

(Image: Essex police)

He told police if he hadn't been caught he would have killed "at least 15" more people.

Fairweather admitted manslaughter but denied murder claiming he had been ordered to make "sacrifices" by voices in his head.

Prosecutors argued these hallucinations were invented in a bid to fool authorities and a jury agreed.

Detectives later found a picture of the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe on his phone and that he had searched the term "five horrific serial killers".

He also owned DVDs featuring Sutcliffe and a collection of horror movies entitled: "Wrong Turn: The Carnage Collection".

(Image: Rex)

(Image: Essex Police)

Fairweather had researched Stockwell Strangler Kenneth Erskine - a serial killer who slayed seven pensioners in 1986 - and his attempts to have his murder convictions reduced to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

The teenager was "turned on" by serial killers and also researched Ian Huntley, Myra Hindley.

His favourite serial killer was American Ted Bundy, who sexually assaulted, murdered and decapitated his victims.

In interviews, Fairweather admitted to feeling a "bit sad" about the killings but added: "It was the right thing to do... they committed sins."

He got a thrill from media coverage of his killings, watching local TV news reports and putting press cuttings into a plastic folder, the court heard.

Mr Attfield, who suffered a brain injury after being hit by a car, was lying in a park after a night in the pub when Fairweather pounced.

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(Image: Essex Police/PA)

The dad-of-five was stabbed 102 times but was somehow still alive when police found him.

He later died at the scene from his injuries.

Three months later, Fairweather carried out an even more brazen knife attack on Saudi Arabian student Nahid Almanea.

The 31-year-old was walking on a footpath towards Essex University in broad daylight when the killer struck again with a 10in bayonet.

(Image: Essex police)

(Image: Essex Police)

Fairweather, now aged 17, was interviewed by police just 13 days later because he had a recent conviction for armed robbery involving a knife.

But there was no evidence to link him to the crimes and he was let go.

He was not arrested until May last year when a dog-walker spotted him waiting for a third victim near the scene of Ms Almenea's killing.

She recognised a distinctive jacket he was wearing from a police appeal.

(Image: Cascade) (Image: Cascade)

When officers arrived they found Fairweather wearing surgical gloves and in possession of a lock knife.

He confessed to the killing, telling police how he ignored James Attfields' screams and cries of "stop, stop" when he stabbed him with a survival knife in March 2014.

And the teenager claimed he stabbed Nahid Almanea in the eyes after voices in his head told him: "they shall not see evil".

Chillingly, Fairweather told another psychiatrist Dr Priscilla Reid he would have gone on to kill more had he not been stopped.

Dr Reid said: "He believed he could have gone on to kill at least 15 more people."

Speaking after today's verdict, Mr Attfield's mother Julie Finch said: "We are grateful for today's verdict and hope now justice has been served we can begin to move on as a family.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

"On March 29 2014 our lives were changed forever when my kind and brave son Jim was brutally killed.

"He had been through so much already, having fought hard to overcome the effects of brain damage suffered when he was struck by a car. He didn't deserve to die.

"At the time we had no idea the killer was so young - a fact that makes my son's death feel all the more cruel and unnecessary.

"James Fairweather is a monster in our eyes - and we will never be able to forgive him.

"I would like to thank all the police I have had contact with for all their hard work and sensitivity.

"I would also like to thank the media who have supported us during the investigation, keeping Jim's case in the public eye and helping the police with appeals for information. "

(Image: Essex Police)

"Journalists have shown us great sensitivity throughout the trial. Everyone has been extremely supportive. My family and I now wish to be left alone so we can continue to grieve in private."

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Worron said: "These were horrific crimes where two people lost their lives in tragic circumstances.

"Fairweather admitted killing James and Nahid but denied their murder was calculated and pre-planned. He then forced their families to endure the pain and grief of a trial rather than admitting that he had murdered them.

"Today’s verdict will never heal the pain of losing their loved ones in such horrific circumstances. Hopefully they now have some answers and can be reassured that their killer will face a long time behind bar