Billings

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Charlotte Marshall says, to lose their son Reece has Every Day in A Nightmare

In the Early Hours of the morning of 1 turn. February 2019, Charlotte Marshall received a phone call that would change her life.

"I knew it would be something bad, because nobody calls me at that time," she says.

It was her ex-husband with some terrible news about her 23-year-old son, Reece.

"He said, 'He is dead', and I thought that it was a mistake," she says.

"He had a tattoo that say "mom" and my birth date and I said, 'you Can ask to see you?' and he said, it would be verified that he is there. "

baseball bat

Reece Ottaway was an avid BMX biker, which often posted online videos of himself performing stunts.

"Everyone loved him, so I couldn't believe that someone would want to hurt him," says his mom.

But he was moving in a very dangerous world. Reece was a cannabis dealer in Northampton.

Five men intent on robbery, ruined had their way in Reece's apartment, armed with a machete, a BB gun and a baseball bat.

you have added More Than 20 wounds on him and left him to die in The Scene . They stole two mobile phones and £10 in cash.

Reece's story is not unusual, according to data collected by Bbc News , the the drugs trade, together with excessive drug and alcohol use are major factors in murders in the whole of the UK.

Reece Ottaway was collected by an avid BMX biker

Bbc News , the details of each murder and Mayhem carried out in The Past five years.

Almost a year on. Charlotte feels "like I'm just Waking Up in A Nightmare Every Day ".

"I don't think he was Cut Out for this kind of life style. He was not in gangs," she says. "He wanted money for a little bit. "

Although you rejected it, it is known, Charlotte learned to speak, to lose your son on his handling, because they feared him. The tragic thing is, it happens anyway.

Four of The Men broke into his apartment later found guilty of murder and life were given sentences, while another homicide and a prison for 16 years, was found guilty of.

"you have not gain anything from the murder of Reece," says Charlotte.

"All you have done, landed in jail for a very, very long time... and I lost my oldest son, and for what? For 10 € and an iPhone. It is just ridiculous. "

Turf Wars

Reece Ottaway was killed in one of the 650 people in the UK in the year 2019. Although this is the lowest number since 2016, alcohol, and drugs remain a significant driver in the murders. And nowhere is this more evident than in London.

"the drug trade is inextricably linked with a high proportion of the violence on our streets," says Cdr Jane Connors, of the Metropolitan Police .

murders have reached a level not seen in the capital since 2007.

Several involved in the terrifying spectacle of the drug Turf Wars of Young Men , the large knife swinging played in public.

Two men and three teenage boys will be sentenced later this month after he was found guilty of murder of Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck, 19, bled to death after he was stabbed in a North London hairdresser.

It was a gangland killing, which the court as "reminiscent of a Hollywood film" with a frightened passers-by, including mothers pushing baby carriages caught in the Chaos.

members of The Public witnessed The Attack on Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck unfold on your High Street

Although there are such cases, of course, grab the headlines, non-violence produced by the market of illegal drugs tell the whole story.

Bbc News traveled to dozens of suicide attempts across the country as part of the award-winning.

In about half, drugs and alcohol were a factor in sparking the violence.

But the killings were actually the result of bad decisions of people under The Influence of excessive alcohol or drug Turf Wars .

Another Northampton kill in the same month, Reece Ottaway is a good example of this.

Bradley Matcham was with friends to celebrate a promotion at work, if he a row with A Stranger , Arthur Billings by a Bank outside a McDonald's in the centre of the city.

A scuffle ensued. And just as things seemed to be settling down, Matcham turned to the side, and Billings , 19, punched him once in The Head . His leg buckled and he fell to the ground. The 24-year-old never regained consciousness and died Nine Days later in Coventry hospital.

Bradley Matcham mother, Sarah, said: "your heart was ripped out when he died"

"My son Bradley has a case, but he should be Bradley, a fiancé, a husband, a father and maybe grandfather," ' s tearful mother, Susan, told a sentencing.

"All I have to leave, talk visits to the cemetery to him for the rest of My Life . The Tears are shed the I of unspeakable love. "

Billings admitted manslaughter in prison for four years. His was a stupid, horrible act, which is under The Influence of too much alcohol.

There is a depressing pattern is repeated often.

After 20% of the murder victims and suspects were under The Influence of alcohol.

The Role of drugs is more harmful, according to the same study:

"alcohol and drugs cause people to do things you would not necessarily do without you, and we often see that in a city or a town center," says Assistant Chief Constable Ian Critchley, Merseyside Police .

"If the people's guards back to videos, if you interviewed and now in custody, and we will show them what you have done, you are appalled by your behavior... a blow or a stab injury may cause the loss of life for someone. It destroys families and communities. "

'Hard-edged approach'

homicide in Merseyside fell by More Than half in the year 2019.

And ACC Critchley loans on "a hard-edged approach to people who think you can stop drugs or weapons on our streets," mixed measures", in which Young People in the crime in the First Place ".

Merseyside Police on quad bikes patrol the areas where the gangs hideout with weapons and drugs

For him, the controversial tactic of stop-and-search "is a, if not The Most , makes The Most important to stop The Police in their fight serious, organised and serious violence".

But, he says: "It must be used ethically and should be used in the communities that support it. "

ACC Critchley points to the recent successes in Speke, a city that just two years ago, big problems with drugs gangs and weapons.

"We have about 27 people behind bars," he says.

The knock-on effect is "the money was back in the community-groups".

"And the decent, hard-working people in Speke ends effectively now own The Streets .

"you are responsible for what is taking place there. "

Prevent people from not necessarily involved in gang crime, when you crack the violence when under The Influence of drugs and alcohol, however, is likely a more difficult problem for The Police .

northampton, drugs trade, merseyside police, metropolitan police service, crime

Source of news: bbc.com