Jacob Abraham murder trial: Five teenagers found guilty

Jacob Abraham was stabbed multiple times behind his family's home

Five teenagers have been convicted of murdering a boy who was stabbed in an alleyway behind his home.

Jacob Abraham, 15, was attacked in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, on 7 December last year.

Jacob was a cannabis dealer and had had disputes with a gang but was also a devoted son who made sandwiches for the homeless, St Albans Crown Court heard.

The defendants - five 15-year-old boys from north London, who cannot be named - are due to be sentenced on 27 July.

Shortly before his death, Jacob posted an online message in which he said: "If you want to mess with me, come and mess with me around my yard."

Following the jury's verdicts, Mr Justice Edis said: "Custody for life is the inevitable sentence for murder."

The five defendants were seen on CCTV walking towards the alleyway in Waltham Cross

Earlier in the trial the court heard Jacob, who lived with his mother, brother and sister in Hurst Drive, was spotted on CCTV buying bread, and helped his family make sandwiches for the homeless.

Jacob later received a mobile phone call and went to the alleyway where he was attacked.

'No angel'

He died at about 22:00 GMT from an artery and vein being pierced in his thigh.

Although a devoted son and brother, prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff QC said evidence suggested Jacob was "no angel".

The jury was told he had dealt in cannabis on a small scale, and had argued with a gang in the months before he died.

The five boys, who had denied murder, were seen on CCTV walking towards the alleyway and later running away.

They had all made their way from their homes in north London and between them had at least two knives.

Ms Bickerstaff said: "Although potentially only two of the five wielded a knife, all five are jointly responsible having lured Jacob there and sharing the joint intention that he should suffer at least really serious harm."

Jacob was found by his brother