The devastated mother of John Pordage said her family's whole world was "thrown into turmoil" after his murder.

Sue Wilson, mother of Mr Pordage, 34, spoke after Bradley Blundell, 19 was sentenced to 22 years in prison after shooting his victim outside a petrol station in Baddow Road, Great Baddow.

Mrs Wilson described, Blundell of Cromwell Close, Boreham as "evil and calculated" as she remembered her feelings after John's death in August 2017.

She said: "Blundell was 17 at the time he shot John. A child. For me, the reality is that he and his gang were out at 2am committing crime whilst armed. Although they were kids in age, their actions on that night were not the actions of children.

“Blundell is evil and calculated. He left my son to die after shooting him in the heart. And over what? John had been laughing and joking with his friend when he and his gang came back to attack.

“And if that wasn’t enough, we heard how he knew exactly where to go to burn the evidence, he knew to wash himself down with petrol, snapped his phones, told others what to do, encouraged them to lie.

“He disposed of the gun – still not telling the police where this is.“Then he went shopping, so he didn’t get in trouble with his girlfriend.

“This 17-year-old was going to spend hundreds of pounds on trainers while my John was lying in the mortuary.

“My son was murdered by a senseless, cruel hooligan that thought it was okay to go out with weapons and take an innocent person’s life."

Mrs Wilson said her son had an "infectious happiness that changed the atmosphere of whichever room he walked into.

She added: "When Blundell and his friends have completed their sentences, they will be able to carry on with their lives.

“John will never get to do any of the things he so enthusiastically planned.

“I will never again be able to feel the brightness that he brought to this world.

“My family and I will never be able to move on from this, but I am hopeful that we leave court today feeling that we have achieved justice for John."