A regional news website won a court fight to name a 16-year-old murderer who stabbed a Good Samaritan father-of-four to death.

Essex Live successfully fought to name Joshuah Sparks, who fatally wounded James Gibbons just yards from the home where he had been celebrating his twin daughters’ second birthday in Laindon, Basildon.

The site’s South Essex reporter Ellis Whitehouse was among four journalists to make applications to get the Section 45 order, which was protecting Sparks, lifted following the killer’s sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Ellis, pictured, argued there was significant public interest in naming Sparks and that the public had a right to be properly informed about the endemic of knife crime and violence in Laindon and the rest of Essex.

Sparks was sentenced the week before his 17th birthday and Essex Live also highlighted that Sparks would receive a custodial sentence which would see him imprisoned well into his 20s, and potentially 30s, so withholding his identity would not give a full and contemporaneous report into the murder.

Christine Agnew QC, representing Sparks, opposed the application, but Mr Justice Bourne lifted the order citing the principle of open justice and the fact the teenager will be able to be named in a year when he turns 18.

Speaking to HTFP, Ellis said: “Following the teen’s conviction, I started working with Joe Lewis from [Reach plc] legal to draw up a submission to challenge the order.

“The judge highlighted this in court as the best application made, out of the four made by media organisations. as he lifted the order.

“It seemed obvious to us that it was in the public interest for his identity to be public – not only to serve as justice for the family and to hold Sparks to account but to hopefully act as a deterrent to other people in Essex and further afield.

“This year, we have seen a number of tragedies in our county – the most notable being MP Sir David Amess’ death and the two boys killed in Brentwood and we want to do all we can to prevent more knife crime happening here.”

Sparks came into conflict with Mr Gibbons, 34, after the latter had befriended a homeless man called Christopher French and given him food.

Mr French then claimed a group of teens, including Sparks, had abused him, including stealing his food, pulling his hoodie and throwing a brick.

Mr Gibbons became angry at this, and went to confront the youths, with him reportedly picking up a metal pole.

The prosecution said that while Mr Gibbons had been confrontational, he posed no threat to the youths.

Despite this, Sparks left the scene, retrieved a knife and stabbed Mr Gibbons four times.

Sparks had denied murder and claimed his actions were in self-defence, but this was rejected by a jury after a five-week trial and he was convicted on a majority verdict last month.

Katrina Chilver, content editor for EssexLive, told HTFP: “When James Gibbons was murdered outside a birthday party for his young twin daughters it was immediately clear this was going to be a huge court case for Essex Live to follow.

“Reports soon started to come out that this was a Good Samaritan case – it has since been revealed that James had been helping a homeless man who was sleeping rough near his home, when a group of teenagers began abusing him, James stepped in – and ended up being killed for it.

“He left behind four children, and a devastated fiancee.

“Ellis Whitehouse reported on the trial where it became clear the teenage defendant had no rational reason for stabbing Mr Gibbons to death.

“In the hours after, the boy showed no remorse, messaging friends admitting the crime and telling them he didn’t care.”