A BEREAVED family has spoken out after two teenagers have today been found guilty of the murder of Olly Stephens.

The 13-year-old boy died after being stabbed in Bugs Bottom fields, near Reading, in January 2021.

Reading Crown Court today heard how two boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been found guilty of his murder.

CLICK HERE for the full details of the court case

Following today's hearing Olly's family has paid tribute to their loyal and caring son.

It said: "Our boy Olly was born to us at 21.21pm on the 1/11/2007, he was taken officially from us at 5.00pm on 3/01/2021.

“He left our home on that fateful afternoon with love and laughter in his heart, with the hope of a bright fun-filled future ahead of him.

“Within 13 minutes of leaving the safety of his loving home Olly had left us forever.

 “Two minutes was all it took to end him and cause us and our family catastrophic heartbreak."

The tribute described Olly as 'a huge character in and around his home, with his friends and at school'.

Adding: "He made people laugh, he could dance with the best of them, and he gave his love freely.  His sense of humour and his wicked comic timing had us and his friends in stitches many a time. He was warm, kind, soulful, a deep thinker and a great carer to those around him.  

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"He was loyal and trusted people to a fault. He would never back down from a fight; he would defend those that couldn’t or wouldn’t defend themselves. I pressed on him the importance of running from a fight, to get clear and take stock of events later, we would deal with the fallout together.  He did not see it my way. It cost him his life."

His family continued to describe the youngster's challenges with working to understand his Autism and how it was a gift and 'something that made him unique'.

Reading Chronicle:

The tribute added: "The memories and stories we have of Olly’s short life have now become priceless treasures locked away in our hearts and minds forever.

“We are sad for the life not yet lived, for the friends he will never meet, for the travel he will never undertake and the journey he will never fulfil. Olly missed the birth of his little cousin by six months. Upon hearing the news of an addition to the family on Christmas day Olly was excited to meet her and was very happy at not being the baby of the family anymore. He would have loved to have held her, he would have looked after her with love, the same way in which he loved and held in high regard his sister.

ALSO READ: Why we can't name the teenagers accused of murdering Olly Stephens

“It was an honour to call him our son, we could not be prouder of the man he would have become. We loved his company, his smile, his laughter, and his mind but most of all we miss his hugs.

“Gentle shoulder charge, love you mate. Xxx

“Today is a sad day, so many young lives and the lives of their families have been devastated by this callous and cold-hearted act.  Knife crime needs to stop.  Now.”