Teenagers sentenced over boy's stabbing death

Isaac Brown was stabbed in the chest and died

Two teenagers have been locked up after a boy was stabbed to death in West Bromwich.

Isaac Brown, 15, died in New Square on 7 April last year after a dispute between two groups over an attack on a 12-year-old boy escalated on social media, ending in a confrontation.

Isaac and two friends agreed to meet Reehan Nezir, 18, and the boy, 14, but ran away after they were faced by a group armed with weapons. Nezir and the 14-year-old later confronted them, and Isaac was stabbed in the chest.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to four years and six months, and Nezir was sentenced to nine years at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday.

They both previously admitted manslaughter and possession of a knife blade in a public place. Nezir also admitted robbery.

After the court hearing, police said the dispute started at about 18:30 BST when the 12-year-old was robbed by a group in Smethwick. He was attacked and his jacket stolen.

Isaac knew the victim through a friend and circulated social media messages to find out who the attackers were.

Tensions escalated, and Nezir, from Edith Road, Smethwick, posted 'Do you know who I am?' and 'I'll teach you a lesson', police said.

Reehan Nezir has been jailed for nine years

Isaac was stabbed just after 21:00 BST. Nezir and the 14-year-old fled, but were arrested the next day, police said.

Ch Supt Kim Madill said: "Isaac was just 15 years old and had his future to look forward to but tragically that was cut short."

She said: "We are doing all we can educate young people about the dangers of carrying a knife.

"We are listening to families affected by knife crime and acting on their feedback to see what more we can do."