In 2014, 14-year-old Breck Bednar was lured to an Essex flat and fatally stabbed by Lewis Daynes, a 19-year-old gaming predator. Daynes had targeted Bednar in an online gaming group, isolating him from his family and sending sick photographs of his body to friends.
Mother's Ordeal
Lorin Bednar, now 59, from Deal, Kent, recalled the moment she learned of her son's death. She told The Mirror: "I couldn't stop screaming, and I had to be sedated. It was just the worst possible thing that could happen to any parent."
Daynes had groomed Breck online, testing him on US current affairs and encouraging him to quit church and the Air Cadets. Lorin suspected grooming for sexual abuse or extremist influence.
Campaign for Online Safety
Lorin now runs the Breck Foundation and met with Sir Keir Starmer ahead of a teen social media ban. She said: "My biggest hope is that the new Prime Minister continues to push for safety, choosing children over big tech."
She added: "If predators online can get to a boy with a family who loved him, did well at school, had friends, was nice looking, and had a whole future ahead of him, online predators can get to anyone."
Sentencing
In January 2015, Daynes was sentenced to a minimum term of 25 years. Mrs Justice Cox stated: "I'm sure that this murder was driven by sadistic or sexual motivation."
