Family in shock after youth stabbed to death by teenage gang

Nick Pearton was stabbed and beaten as he tried to escape up to 10 attackers in Sydenham, south east London. Witnesses said a gang of boys armed with knives, baseball bats and sticks chased him across a park.

The heavily bleeding victim then staggered into a fast food shop on the opposite side of a busy road calling for help. His mother, Kim, who lives a short distance away, was alerted by his younger brother and ran to the shop and tried to comfort him.

Speaking at the family home, the boy's father Vince said his family were too shocked to talk about what had happened.

Fighting back tears, he said: "There's nothing I can say, we can't take it in."

One neighbour who had been comforting the Peartons described them as "totally shell-shocked". She said: "It's been terrible. We are a really tight-knit community. We all know each other. It is just what it has come to these days. No one can believe what has happened."

The attack took place at about 6.15pm on Wednesday in Home Park Recreation Ground, off Sydenham Road.

One witness said Nick cycled to the park to face members of a rival gang after another confrontation earlier in the week. The 16-year-old boy said: "There was a fight over something silly. Nick was lying on the floor of the chicken shop bleeding.

"His mum came out screaming 'my baby boy, my son'. I didn't see him get stabbed, just on the floor. I don't really mix with all them lot around here because they are trouble."

Police officers stood guard around a large cordon that covered most of the park and several streets yesterday. The front of MM Fried Chicken was covered with a blue tarpaulin as forensic officers in white suits examined the building.

Police are believed to have recovered several weapons from bushes on the edge of the park and blood stains could be seen on the pavement.

A woman said she saw a confrontation between a large group of young people from her window. "He was chased across the park by more than 10 of them. They were carrying knives, bats and sticks.

"I saw one of them pick up a tree stump and throw it at him.

"They were just chasing him, they were out of control. They ran across the road, they did not care for the traffic."

Two bouquets of flowers had been left at the scene of the attack. One card said: "Sleep well angel."

The Metropolitan Police said several teenagers were arrested but declined to provide details.

Ten teenagers have been murdered in London this year. Last year 14 youngsters died. Nick was the seventh to die in a six-week spate of teen murders.

As police continued the investigation, officers in Merseyside said a teenager was critically ill after being stabbed in a gang fight yards from a polling station.

A man was later arrested.