Grays Murder Youth Also Faced Sex Charges

12 January 2015, 11:38 | Updated: 12 January 2015, 11:39

Chelmsford Crown Court

A teenager who stabbed to death a 14-year-old boy he met while playing online video games was also accused of sexually assaulting another boy, it can be reported for the first time.

Computer engineer Lewis Daynes, 19, pleaded guilty to the murder of Breck Bednar, who was found with a fatal neck wound at a flat in Grays, on February 17.

He is due to be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court later today (Monday).

Mrs Justice Cox lifted reporting restrictions which covered five other counts that Daynes faced.

These included four counts of sexual offences relating to another victim and one of possessing indecent images. Daynes has denied these offences.

Prosecutor Richard Whitham QC said there was no longer a realistic prospect of a conviction given the conviction for murder and the charges were dropped.

Daynes, of Rosebery Road, Grays, had previously denied murder but dramatically changed his plea on the day he was due to stand trial.

Mr Whitham told the court it was the prosecution's case that the murder "involved a sexual and sadistic motivation".

Family members said Breck, from Caterham in Surrey, had left home after arranging to meet a friend online.

Since his death his mother, Lorin LeFave, has launched the Breck Bednar Memorial Foundation to help raise money and awareness to help protect children.

Breck, who was a student at St Bede's School in Redhill, Surrey, was an air cadet with 135 Squadron and attended St John the Evangelist church in Caterham.