Jamal Chad Waddell, 17, can be identified after a judge lifted an injunction
Subscribe today to get the latest Northants headlines straight to your inbox with our free email updates
We have more newsletters
A 17-year-old boy from Wellingborough who killed teenager Dylan Holliday last year has been named. Jamal Chad Waddell was sentenced to 16 years in prison at Northampton Crown Court yesterday, September 7, after being convicted of manslaughter by a jury at Coventry Crown Court in earlier this year.
Despite Waddell being aged 17 – an age at which defendants' identities are usually protected – the judge, the Honorable Mr Justice Dove, lifted a reporting restriction which had prevented Waddell's name from being published. A second 17-year-old boy, who still cannot be named, was found not guilty of killing Dylan.
Dylan was stabbed in the underpass in Shelley Road, Wellingborough, on August 5, 2021. The 16-year-old was with two friends when they were approached by two other boys, resulting in Dylan being stabbed 13 times. Dylan himself called 999, but he could not be saved. He died in Northampton General Hospital shortly afterwards.
READ MORE: Descriptions of men involved in knife fight outside Northampton club released by police
During the attack, one of Dylan’s friends also suffered stab wounds. For this, both Waddell and the second defendant were found guilty of grievous bodily harm. Waddell was also found guilty of carrying a knife.
Following his sentencing, Mr Justice Dove lifted the reporting restriction which had previously prevented Waddell's name from being published. The law prevents the media from naming defendants aged under 18, unless a judge lifts the ban.
Mr Justice Dove said Waddell was a "dangerous offender". He said to the killer: “You turned what had been a peaceful afternoon for them into violence and chaos in a matter of moments. Dylan Holliday was killed by you, Jamal Waddell; Dylan’s friend was attacked by you [the second defendant], and then stabbed in the chest by you, Jamal Waddell, causing him very serious injuries indeed, and leaving him in hospital.
"You did not have that knife with you for your own protection but you had it with you as an offensive weapon. I have no doubt that, as happened, you had the intention to use it to cause serious injury to others."
He continued: “The carrying of knives in public with a criminal intention has an appalling impact on the lives of our towns and cities: the deaths and injuries which are caused by these weapons shatter lives and fracture our communities. It is a lesson which this case typifies and must be learned if our communities are going to be safe places to live.”
Senior Investigating Officer for Northamptonshire Police Detective Superintendent Joe Banfield said after the sentencing: “No sentence will bring Dylan Holliday back and I know today will bring little comfort to his family who still painfully feel his loss. Dylan’s death had a huge impact on the local community in Wellingborough and it is such a tragedy that a boy with his whole life ahead of him had it cut short in this way.
“Sadly, this case once again demonstrates the danger of knives and Northamptonshire Police will continue to work relentlessly to remove these deadly weapons from our streets. Whilst today has seen a young man sent to prison for this offence, there really are no winners in this case, and my thoughts will remain with Dylan’s family and friends who miss him immensely.”
Twelve years of Waddell's sentence will be spent in custody, and four on licence. The second defendant was given a 12-month youth rehabilitation order.
Keep up with the latest news with our email alerts directly to your inbox. Sign up here
READ NEXT: