A MAN has admitted stabbing to death a 14-year-old boy after they met playing online computer games.

Lewis Daynes, 19, a computer engineer from Grays, pleaded guilty to the murder of Breck Bednar just before he was due to stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday.

Breck, from Caterham in Surrey, suffered a fatal neck wound after being stabbed by Daynes in Rosebery Road, Grays, in February this year.

Daynes had previously denied the murder charge, but, dressed smartly in a grey suit with a white shirt and tie, said "guilty" as the court clerk read the charge to him.

Barrister Richard Whittam QC told the court it was the prosecution's case that the murder "involved a sexual, sadistic motivation".

Daynes, flanked by two security officers, looked straight ahead and showed no emotion during short hearing, which was adjourned until January 12 for sentencing.

The victim's father, oil futures trader Barry Bednar, who is originally from Houston, Texas, was in court to hear Daynes's guilty plea.

Speaking afterwards, Det Ch Supt Tracy Hawkings said: "Lewis Daynes, 19, has admitted the murder of Breck Bednar, a 14-year-old child. The prosecution alleges the murder involved a sexual or sadistic motivation, but this is yet to be determined.

"The full facts of the case will be opened on Monday, January 12, 2015, upon which Daynes will be sentenced for this crime.

"I would like to put on record my personal thanks to the Senior Investigating Officer Det Insp Anne Cameron and the investigation team, who conducted this enquiry with diligence and professionalism. I would also like to pay tribute to the Crown Prosecution Service who worked tirelessly on the preparation of this case.

"This is undoubtedly one of the main reasons that a guilty plea has been entered."

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In a statement, Breck's mother Lorin LaFave, said part of her had died when her son was murdered as she revealed the attack took place on her birthday.

She said: "First of all I’d like to thank the members of the police who have worked so hard on this tragic case and Mr Whittam (Queen’s Counsel) who has been so helpful throughout.

"Thank you also to family and friends for all of their support. Also the support and help from all in the Caterham community, Caterham School, St Bedes School, and Breck’s many friends, so, so much appreciated.

"I couldn’t have done any of this on my own. I am heartbroken and lost without my Breck and I will never be the same.

"As he was murdered on my birthday this year, so much of me died as well. My poor triplets lost not only their adored big brother, but their mother as well.

"Breck was my amazing, clever beautiful son who I will miss forever. He had so much potential that I will never see him reach.

"I want Breck’s tragedy to help open the eyes of everyone to recognise the dangers of online predators, it is a very real danger today.

"We have set up the Breck Bednar Memorial Foundation to raise money and awareness to help protect our children from danger. I’ll never stop missing my Breck, we all need to look after each other."

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In the days after the tragedy, residents spoke of how “a lad had blood on his hands” as he was carted away from the murder scene by Essex Police.

The usually quiet residential street of Roseberry Road in Grays became a hive of police activity following the death of Breck Bednar in February.

One resident said: “A lad had blood on his hands as he was taken away by police, I didn’t recognise him.”

Another resident said: “There were police cars and forensic vans, probably about eight of them and then the helicopter arrived.

“To have this on our doorstep was just shocking.”

It is still not entirely clear what Breck, who attended St Bede’s school in Caterham, Surrey, was doing in Grays.

But a Facebook post, which appeared in the days after the murder, by someone claiming to be Breck’s cousin, said he had turned to the internet after struggling to make friends. It said he “ended up taking a train down to Essex, about two hours away to meet the man he had been talking to over the internet”.