It has been almost a year since 16-year-old Ben Hitchcock was murdered. SCOTT MULLINS speaks to his devastated mother as she backs our Voices for Violence campaign and continues her own fight for justice.

A PARENT should never face having to outlive their child but Lee Hitchcock lives with that pain every day.

Speaking less than a fortnight before the first anniversary of her son's death and fighting back tears, she relives a year of turmoil and despair.

The former personal assistant said: "Every time I see another young person die on the streets it just breaks my heart because I know there is a mother out there going through what I went through."

Her son, Ben, died on the streets of Beckenham after being stabbed in a fight on June 23.

He was 16 years old.

Eyewitnesses described youths wielding metal chains, poles and pick-axe handles in the fight, which is now the subject of a murder investigation.

Mrs Hitchcock, 47, said: "As a family, we have to live forever with the fact our son was taken away at such a young age. The pain will never leave us."

But the anguish for Ben's family is made worse as they face the awful truth their son's killer still roams the streets.

To date, 29 people have been arrested in connection with the late-night murder on Southend Road, but no-one has been charged.

Mrs Hitchcock, of Blean Grove, Penge, admits justice has yet to be served.

She said: "I'm devastated my son's killer is still out there somewhere. It doesn't seem just.

"I want to see someone brought to account over his death.

"I am in constant pain knowing the person who has done this has enjoyed a Christmas, a birthday and now is looking forward to another summer.

"I have faith the police will catch whoever did this, we have to hope."

Ben was a pupil at Kelsey Park Sports College in Manor Way, Beckenham, and his mum says the Year 11 student had his whole life ahead of him.

She said: "We will never forget Ben. He was a loving and caring boy and being the oldest, his brothers used to go to him for advice.

"He passed eight GCSEs but Ben never knew because he died before the results came out.

"It just proved he was a bright boy with his whole future ahead of him.

"It is still so raw and I know the pain is never going to go away.

It is believed Ben, nicknamed Swipe, was a member of the Penge Block gang and was set upon by a rival group, intent on brutality.

But Mrs Hitchcock denies her son was involved in a gang.

She said: "My son was never in a gang. He was with a group of friends that night and ended up fighting for his life."

And in the face of spiralling violence amongst our young people, Mrs Hitchcock has spoken of her support for News Shopper's campaign to get to the root cause of youth violence on the borough's streets.

She said: "I think we need to do something although I am not sure what the answers are. We need to stop these children attacking each other somehow."

"I am very much behind this campaign. Getting the views of the community could hold the key.

She added: "I just don't want to see any more young people end up the way my son did."

If you have any information on Ben's murder, call the murder investigation team on 020 8721 4961.