POLICE officers have been reflecting on the investigation thatresulted in the conviction and sentence of a teenager who killed Basildon man Terry Leeks.

Officers had not been able to report the result of this case before now due to the involvement of the person responsible in another, unconnected trial.

Mr Leeks was 46 when he was fatally stabbed in Northlands Park, Basildon at around 1.30am on 11 July 2021.

He was captured on CCTV entering the park on his bicycle a short time before the assault before a confrontation with a group of three or four people.

Detectives believe he had entered the park having arranged to meet someone.

Fishermen on the opposite side of the lake in the park, heard a disturbance and witnessed a coming together and Terry falling to the floor, they rushed to his aid and called emergency services.

Terry was taken to hospital but later died there.

Missed - Terry Leeks.

A homicide investigation began by detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Officers carried out house-to-house enquiries, took nearly 500 witness statements, collected 1,370 exhibits, and viewed 150 hours of CCTV footage.

A total of 17 public media appeals were issued, including releasing CCTV of suspects and of Terry's last movements, the independent charity Crimestoppers put up a £20,000 reward for information, and the case was featured on BBC One's Crimewatch Live programme in March 2023.

A total of 13 people were arrested as part of the investigation.

Through these enquiries, detectives identified a teenager - 18 year-old Callum Taylor – who they believed was responsible and he was arrested.

In February of last year, Taylor was charged with Mr Leek's murder.

Initially he denied the charge but at Basildon Crown Court on 4 October last year, he admitted manslaughter.

At the same court on Friday, 27 October last year the now-19-year-old was sentenced to seven years in prison.

A reporting restriction had been place upon the publication of Taylor's conviction and sentencing because he was also a defendant in an upcoming burglary trial.

However, that has now concluded meaning the outcome of Mr Leeks' investigation and prosecution can be reported.

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who led the investigation, said: "My thoughts remain with Terry Leeks' family and his friends.

"They had waited more than two years to see justice for Terry. They have described that time as 'hell', knowing that those responsible for his death were out in the community.

"My team and I have worked tirelessly since July 2021 to identify those involved and gather enough evidence to put them in front of a jury.

"It has been painstaking work and required a huge amount of persistence. We have relentlessly pursued Terry's killer and carried out a huge number of enquiries to get to that point and I am pleased that work has resulted in them being held accountable, and now we are able to report on this

"No conviction or sentence will ever bring Terry back but I hope this result has helped his family to move forward."

Two other people who had been charged with manslaughter – 20 year-old Bailey Taylor, of Craylands and a 17 year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons – had the charges against them dropped as a result of Callum Taylor's guilty plea.