Dylan Bragger: Skelmersdale man jailed for murdering boy, 15

Felipe Figueiredo claimed self defence but was convicted following a trial at Preston Crown Court

A man has been jailed for life for murdering a 15-year-old boy he thought had stolen his wife's motorbike.

Dylan Bragger was "butchered like an animal" after being stabbed at least 23 times in Digmoor Road, Skelmersdale, in June 2023, his family said.

Police said Felipe Figueiredo, of Skelmersdale, denied murder and claimed self-defence, but was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court.

The 28-year-old must serve at least 22 years.

After receiving messages at around 20:30 BST on 29 June, that his wife's stolen motorbike had been seen with two young males in the area, Figueiredo set off from his home to track them down, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Half an hour later, Figueiredo came across Dylan and another man.

Dylan Bragger was described as a "gentle giant" by his family

Following "a short verbal confrontation", he chased them down an embankment where he repeatedly stabbed Dylan, leaving him seriously injured in the bushes.

He chased the other male away, disposed of the knife and returned home, the CPS said.

Police said Dylan suffered at least 23 injuries to the head, neck, chest, back, abdomen and arms in the attack and was pronounced dead shortly after officers arrived.

Figueiredo chased Dylan down an embankment where he stabbed him to death

Figueiredo returned home and called police at 21:30 to hand himself in, before armed officers arrived to arrest him.

He later claimed he stabbed Dylan "a few times" in self-defence, police said.

The Lancashire force said the jury rejected that claim, after hearing the extent of Dylan's injuries as well as being shown evidence inconsistent with Figueiredo's recollection of the attack.

'Gentle giant'

At the sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Bryan said: "You took the life of a young man who had his whole life ahead of him, murdering him in what can only be described as a frenzied attack."

He said claiming self-defence was "preposterous" as Figueiredo had not "suffered any injury whatsoever to yourself".

The teenager's family previously described Dylan as a "gentle giant" and said: "He was just a 15-year-old lad working towards being a car mechanic with his whole life ahead of him."

Dylan's family outside court