Teenager Joseph Whitchurch Murdered on Boxing Day
Sixteen-year-old Joseph Whitchurch was brutally stabbed to death in the early hours of Boxing Day 2020. Jake Rollinson, 21, a violent small-time drug dealer, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the horrific attack.
Life Sentence for Killer Jake Rollinson
At Nottingham Crown Court today, Rollinson was handed a life sentence, with a minimum of 19 years behind bars. The killer stabbed Joseph four times in the chest and leg inside his grandmother’s house in Stapleford.
Heartbreaking Tribute from Joseph’s Mum
“Joseph loved being around people and people loved being around him. He had a happy nature, and his warm and caring personality was loved by everyone,” said Lisa, Joseph’s mother, during a moving court statement.
“He was always looking out for his younger brothers. I was always told what a lovely, polite young lad he was. Nothing prepares you for losing a child, especially in such a brutal way.”
Deceit, Lies and a Violent Past
Rollinson, who had a history of violence and offensive weapons charges, tried to cover up his crime. He called 999 claiming Joseph was stabbed outside by an unknown attacker and that he found him in the street. However, police found no evidence of blood outside.
The murder weapon, a large hunting-style knife, was found hidden in the garden shortly before paramedics arrived. After a three-week trial, a jury found Rollinson guilty of murder. He also admitted trying to pervert the course of justice.
Accomplice Sentenced
Rollinson’s former girlfriend, 26-year-old Lorna Richardson, who helped with the cover-up, was sentenced to two years in prison for attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Detective’s Grim Assessment
Detective Inspector Steve Wragg said: “Rollinson was a violent and aggressive drug dealer with a fondness for knives. He claimed to be Joseph’s friend but was actually a controlling bully who had threatened him before.”
“Rollinson’s lies were exposed early, and his attempts to paint Joseph as the aggressor were a final insult. The reality is clear: Rollinson stabbed his victim repeatedly with a large knife he had no right to possess.”
“This sentence ends a long legal ordeal for Joseph’s family, but it will never ease their pain. They have shown enormous courage and dignity in unimaginably difficult times.”
