Teen guilty of murdering Joshua Ingram over '£25 cannabis debt' – East Sussex

A 16-year-old boy has been found guilty of murdering another teenager over a supposed £25 cannabis debt, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.  

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted at Hove Crown Court today (5 August).  

He pleaded guilty to Manslaughter and Possession of a Bladed Article at a previous hearing.  

A 15-year-old boy was also found guilty of Assisting an Offender and a 17-year-old boy has already pleaded guilty to the same charge. 

All three boys will be sentenced at the same court on 2 October 2026.  

The court heard that BTP and Sussex Police officers responded to reports of a stabbing at Seaford railway station at around 5pm on Wednesday 10 September 2025.  

Paramedics also attended, and 16-year-old Joshua Ingram was found seriously injured. Despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead a short time later.  

The suspect was arrested at his home in Seaford around 40 minutes later and was taken into custody.  

BTP detectives began investigating immediately, securing witness statements, forensically examining the suspect's phone, and reviewing CCTV.  

Footage captured the moment the suspect spotted Joshua in Seaford town centre as he walked with a friend after finishing college. 

He ran across the road and followed Joshua into the station, where he stabbed him rapidly twice from behind with a 19cm hunting knife before fleeing.   

Joshua was completely blindsided and unaware of the boy's presence. He was critically injured and collapsed on the platform just moments later. His friend and a member of the public tried to help, but his injuries were too severe.  

On examining the suspect's phone, officers found WhatsApp group chat messages, which the two other convicted boys were also members of, showing that he and Joshua knew each other, and that the suspect was irate over £25 he claimed Joshua supposedly owed him for cannabis.  

In the group chat, the suspect boasted on numerous occasions saying he was going to harm Joshua, writing 'Joshua Ingram will perish' and that he was 'ready to sit in a prison cell for 30 years over a £20 sheet'. 

Officers established that the killer dropped the knife and clothing in a bag to the 17-year-old boy at his home almost immediately after the incident.   

Around two hours later, the 17-year-old and 15-year-old went to try to dispose of the items in the sea but were met by passing Sussex Police officers and instead handed the bag to them, saying that the 16-year-old suspect had given it to them. 

BTP Detective Chief Inspector Paul Stanley, Senior Investigating Officer in the case, said: “Joshua Ingram’s life was tragically cut short in an attack that can only be described as vicious and cowardly. He was a young man with a proud and loving family and many friends, and at just 16 he had his whole future ahead of him.   

"I can only hope that Joshua’s family and friends feel some small sense of justice today, though that can never compensate for their immeasurable loss. I'm grateful to the jury, who have seen through the suspect’s attempts to diminish his actions and found him guilty of murder today.  

"Our investigation proved that the defendant had messaged extensively about harming Joshua as a result of a petty debt for about £25 of cannabis. In court, he attempted to dismiss these messages as sheer bravado and fantasy. But following a chance meeting on that fateful day, he put his talk into action taking Joshua’s life from a singular blow with a large knife he routinely carried. Two of the suspect’s friends would have disposed of critical evidence afterwards had they not encountered police.  

"I would like to thank my officers for their exceptional hard work and dedication on behalf of Joshua's family. I would also like to thank our colleagues at Sussex Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the local authority for their invaluable support."   

Paying tribute to him, Joshua’s family said today: "Whilst today's verdict brings a measure of justice to our family, it will never bring Josh back and no sentence, however long, will ever replace the precious life that was stolen from him or heal the devastating loss to our family. 

“He was a kind-hearted lad; many would agree a cheeky chappie who touched the lives in so many ways of those who knew and loved him. 

"This isn't a day for celebration. It's a day for reflection as we remember Josh for the young man that he was and not for the way and reasons his life was ended. 

"We hope Josh's story serves as a reminder of the devasting consequences of knife crime.” 

Selected photo of Joshua Ingram: