Teenager who stabbed 12-year-old Ava White named as he turns 18
The teenager who fatally stabbed 12-year-old Ava White in Liverpool city centre can be named for the first time as he turns 18.
Harry Gilbertson was 14 when he carried out the attack on the schoolgirl on November 25 2021.
The following year, he was convicted of her murder after a trial and, at 15, he was sentenced to a minimum of 13 years for her murder.
Reporting restrictions preventing Gilbertson from being identified were kept in place until he turned 18, despite representations from the media, which were supported by Ava's family.
Ava's mother Leeann White, 42, said: 'I wanted the whole world to know who he was. I think Liverpool had the right to know who he was as well.'
She said since the trial, she had been told very little about Gilbertson, but had learnt he had done his GCSEs.
Speaking through tears, she said: 'It should have been Ava sitting her GCSEs, not him.'
On Ava's 15th birthday, in January 2024, Ms White's nephew was sent a photograph from a seemingly fake Snapchat profile which appeared to show Gilbertson posing for the camera with his arms crossed alongside another male whose face had been covered on the photo with a logo and who had his middle finger up.
Ms White reported the photo and was told Gilbertson had been using an iPad for educational purposes and there was a glitch in the system allowing him to use the internet, but was also told the photo had been taken while he was on a visit.
She said she was told he had been 'read the riot act' but had no formal punishment.
She said: 'He didn't get any privileges taken off him. He just got a telling off basically.'
She said she felt 'really angry' when she saw the picture.
'I can never have a photograph with my child now so why does he have the right? He lost his rights when he murdered my child,' she said
Ms White, who has set up a foundation in Ava's name that provides bleed control kits to premises, said she had mixed emotions about Gilbertson being named.
'I try not to think about him if I'm being honest, because if I do, I'm just taking a million steps back,' she said.
'So I just try to focus on Ava and doing stuff for her legacy is more important to me than thinking about him.'
When making the decision to keep reporting restrictions in place, trial judge Mrs Justice Yip said there were concerns for Gilbertson's younger siblings, one of whom had not been told their brother was on trial for murder.
Ms White said: 'Yet I had to sit my little nephews and nieces down and tell them about Ava, but they could hide everything for him. I feel like they've done everything they can to protect him and his family.'
She said she felt her own family had 'nowhere near' the same protection.
Ava had been in the city centre with friends on the night the Christmas lights were being switched on. The group became involved in an argument with Gilbertson and his friends, who had been filming Snapchat videos of them.
Gilbertson was carrying a knife and struck Ava once to the neck, causing her fatal injury, before fleeing the scene, discarding the weapon and getting rid of his coat.
He was seen on CCTV in a shop later that night taking a selfie and buying butter, which he said was for crumpets.
Ms White added: 'I think he's got understanding (of what he's done), he's quite a clever child.
'He's got understanding, he's just got no remorse.
'It really doesn't feel like justice. He still gets to live and breathe. My Ava doesn't. His mum can see him getting married, having a baby. I'm never going to have that with Ava.'
Since Ava's death, Ms White, along with Ava's older sister Mia and her aunt June White, have worked through the Ava White Foundation to provide hundreds of bleed control kits in the hope they can prevent other families from going through what they experienced.
At least six lives have been saved thanks to the kits provided by the Ava White Foundation, Ms White said.
The packs, which include gauze, trauma dressings and tourniquets, are delivered to schools, pubs and businesses and training is given on how to use them.
When a 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy were stabbed in Kirkby, Merseyside, in April, a bleed control kit donated in Ava's name to a nearby pub was used to help treat the children, who were both taken to hospital but survived.
Ms White said: 'I think every establishment should have one. The way knife crime is, it's not going down, it's getting worse. Everyone needs to be aware of this training, it's so easy.'
She said hearing of other children killed through knife crime made her 'sad for the child but more so for the mum and what she's got to go through now'.
Since Ava's death she no longer has 'good days' but has 'OK days and really bad days', she said.
She added: 'What keeps me going is I'm keeping Ava's name out there and that's more important to me, to keep Ava's name out there so she's not forgotten.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man thought he'd beaten the system - then a letter turned up
A man is celebrating after a case about his TV licence was thrown out of court. Lee Stuart had applied for a TV licence when he moved to a new house, but later decided to cancel it because he did not watch any live television. However, after a conversation with a TV Licence inspection officer where he confirmed as much, he was shocked to find a letter saying he was in breach of licence requirements and was facing a hefty fine. According to guidance on the TV Licensing website, a licence is required to watch or record live TV on any channel or device, including live programming streamed online via services such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. A licence is also necessary for using BBC iPlayer, reports the ECHO. READ MORE: He was stopped by police on the M6 - now he's spending years behind bars READ MORE: Aldi reveals 20 locations it wants to open new stores - full list A TV Licensing spokesperson told the newspaper: 'If a property we believe should be licensed is unlicensed, letters are sent to that address advising of the requirement for a TV Licence if the occupant watches live TV or other licensable content. This stops for one year when the occupant declares they don't need a licence, when letters will resume to check if circumstances have changed.' In September last year, Mr Stuart was visited by a TV Licensing inspection officer. He described the visit as an opportunity to explain his viewing habits in person, adding: 'I told him I didn't pay for a TV licence because I didn't think I needed one because I don't watch live TV. 'I don't even have an aerial installed in my TV, and I invited him to do his checks. He was a bit apprehensive, but he looked at everything and asked me what I used the TV for. "So I told him I just watch Netflix and Amazon Prime through the PlayStation, and he asked me if I used BBC iPlayer and I said, 'no'.' Following the inspection, Mr Stuart said the officer confirmed he was not in breach of licensing requirements. Mr Stuart, from Kirkby, described how the officer documented their conversation and read back the main points, including that no live TV was being watched and no BBC iPlayer account was used. He added: 'It was official, and I agreed with what he had said, so when I was presented with the big white signature box, I just signed it, and then he left. To be honest, I was really made up with myself, thinking I'd beaten the system and proved I didn't need a licence.' However, in January this year, Mr Stuart received a Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN), which covers those who are alleged to have watched TV without a licence. Lee explained: 'It said if I pleaded not guilty, the fine would be larger and I may have to pay court costs. So I'm not sure what's going on at this point. 'I looked through it all, and at the back was the inspector's statement. Straight away I clocked the question, 'May I come in to inspect the TV receiver?' and it said 'no' in the answer box, so that was wrong because I did. 'The next point was saying I admitted to watching the news last week. So I've refused him entry and then admitted on the step I watched live news last week? It didn't make any sense.' Mr Stuart chose to contest the notice and represented himself at Sefton Magistrates Court. He said: 'I can see why people just accept it, but I knew I was innocent and I wasn't paying for a TV licence that I didn't need so I fought it.' "I'll be totally honest, I was surprised by the outcome and I thought it might be good to share my experience.' The court dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence. A TV Licensing spokesperson said: 'This was reviewed by TV Licensing following the court hearing in April 2025 as is standard practice, and no failings were highlighted.' The ECHO understands that while both the officer and Mr Stuart gave credible in-person testimony, the magistrates could not find the case was proved beyond reasonable doubt. Mr Stuart, initially pleased with the outcome, later received a further letter from TV Licensing advising of the licence requirement. He has since submitted a formal complaint and a No Licence Needed (NLN) declaration. He added: 'The form asks at the end, 'What outcome do you want from this?' and I just put 'All I want is to be left alone, but an apology wouldn't go amiss'.' TV Licensing confirmed it has now received Mr Stuart's NLN declaration.
Associated Press
32 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Chris Brown pleads not guilty to a charge that he beat and injured a music producer in London
LONDON (AP) — Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge that he beat and seriously injured a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub in 2023. Brown, 36, pleaded not guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in Southwark Crown Court. Brown's friend and fellow musician Omololu Akinlolu, 38, who performs under the name 'Hoody Baby,' pleaded not guilty to the same charge. Prosecutors said Brown and Akinlolu assaulted producer Abe Diaw at a bar in the Tape nightclub in the swanky Mayfair neighborhood in February 2023. Brown allegedly launched an unprovoked attack on Diaw and hit him several times with a bottle and then punched and kicked him. The attack was caught on surveillance camera in front of a club full of people, prosecutors said.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Missing Rolex case: Woman charged with murder after 69-year-old stabbed in her north London flat
A woman has been charged with the murder of a 69-year-old woman who was stabbed in her home. Jennifer Abbott - also known as Sarah Steinberg - was pronounced dead at her flat in Camden, north London, last Friday. Police previously said they believed the death could be linked to a missing diamond-encrusted Rolex watch. Nancy Pexton, also 69, has been charged by the Metropolitan Police and is due to appear at Highbury Magistrates' Court later today. Ms Abbott was found by her niece and neighbours, who broke her door down after her family had not heard from her for several days. She had last been seen walking her corgi in the area on 10 June. A post-mortem examination gave her cause of death as sharp force trauma. Detective Inspector Barry Hart previously said: "Our deepest sympathies are with the victim's loved ones who are being supported by specialist officers at this time." There has been an increased police presence in the area as detectives explore "several lines of inquiry". Neighbours described Ms Abbott as "exuberant" and "vivacious".
