Chilling 999 call reveals moment mother turned teenager into police after he ... trends now

A teenager has been found guilty of stabbing to death a 16-year-old after his own mother called police to report the murder.

Joshua Delbono, 19, stabbed Charley Bates after a fist fight broke out between two groups of friends at a car park in Radstock, Somerset, shortly after 6.40pm on July 31 last year.

Just hours later, at around 12.45am the following morning, Delbono's mother called 999 and told an operator: 'My son's killed someone.'

Asked for the location of the incident, the mother said: 'It was at Radstock earlier. He's just come back and I've found out. He's in my house now but I can't let him go anywhere.'

She added: 'He's here. I've told him I've got to do it.'

Delbono was today jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years at Bristol Crown Court.

The court heard two cars arrived in a car park, one of which was carrying Delbono, when Mr Bates approached the car due to a dispute with one of the defendant's friends over money.

A fight subsequently broke out, before friends of both individuals became involved.

Delbono then picked up his knife and stabbed Mr Bates through the chest. The victim also suffered a knife wound to his arm consistent with trying to defend himself.

The incident lasted just five minutes and Delbono fled the scene with his group.

Mr Bates was pronounced dead 35 minutes later.

Delbono travelled half an hour to Shearwater Lake, where he was pictured on a friend's phone burning his clothes in an attempt to cover his tracks.

But when he returned home six hours after the stabbing, his mother called police and informed an operator that her son had killed someone.

She then handed the phone to her son, who said: 'I don't know anything about him (the victim) at all. I went in to help my mate. I thought "I'm not getting stabbed".'

Delbono, of Frome, Somerset, accepted he had stabbed Mr Bates but pleaded not guilty to murder. He was found unanimously guilty by a jury today.

Passing sentence, Judge William Hart what started out as a normal fist fight ended with a 'young boy with his whole life ahead' lying dead on the ground.

He told Delbono: 'You took the knife from the car intending to use it as you did, not to warn people off.' 

The judge also issued a warning about the dangers and tragedy of young people carrying knives.

He added: 'Let me say to all who hear my remarks of the damage that is caused by carrying knives. You may rob a person of their life. What happened that day cast a horrible shadow over everyone.'

Before sentencing, Charley's family, including both his parents, gave victim impact statements and said they were all still struggling to come to terms with his death.

His mother said: 'My Charley boy was stolen from me in a senseless violent act.'