Mother's agony after son's murder

Ben's mother Tracy Gwynn arrives at Swansea Crown Court

The mother of Swansea teenager Ben Bellamy, murdered as he walked home from a night out, has spoken of her pain as three youths were jailed.

Tracy Gwynn said her life "feels so empty and has lost its purpose" since the "evil killing" of 17-year-old Ben.

She revealed she would break down in tears while shopping if she saw something that reminded her of him.

But she said people should not feel sorry for her, but for Ben - "the most wonderful, caring, sensitive person".

Ben was killed when after meeting Joel Taylor, 18, Joshua Thomas, 16, and Andrew Rafferty, 18, as he walked home from a night out in Swansea.

Taylor and Thomas, who were found guilty of murder, were jailed for life, and must serve at least 22 years and 18 years respectively. Rafferty must serve at least five years for manslaughter.

I can't bear to hear about other people's lives and their children when my life has changed so much since I lost Ben Tracy Gwynn

In a statement after the sentences, Ms Gwynn said: "Since Ben's death my life has changed dramatically, my life feels so empty and has lost its purpose.

"I cant bear to go out of the house because I cannot face people. I can't bear to hear about other people's lives and their children when my life has changed so much since I lost Ben.

"I do go out. I force myself in an effort to try and get back to some sort of normality.

"But if I'm out, I often find myself breaking down in tears in the middle of a shop if I see something that reminds me of Ben.

"I have often found myself shopping and if I have seen something that Ben would have liked, or things he already had, I have literally put my shopping down and fled home in tears without buying what I had sent out to get.

Karl Bellamy, Ben's younger brother

"I don't want people to feel sorry for me because I am still here - it is Ben I want people to feel sorry for.

"He was the most wonderful, caring, sensitive person. He was so intelligent and could have achieved anything he wanted in life because he had the ambition and ability to achieve."

Ben's father John was also in court for the sentencing. Ms Gwynn, who attended with her other son Karl, 15, said Ben was "loved by everyone who knew him".

She said: "No one had a bad word to say about him and he was even kind to those three boys who killed him.

They have shown no remorse and have acted as they have done nothing wrong Tracy Gwynn

"There is no reason why Taylor, Thomas and Rafferty carried out the evil they did that night.

"The enormous pain I feel cannot be described at knowing that Ben was tortured into giving his property, his phone, card, and pin number and beaten so badly he didn't look like my Ben.

"Not only that but after doing that they stripped him naked and dragged him into the sea to die.

"I will never know what drove them to end Ben's life in such a horrible, horrible way because they have not given any explanation at either in the police station or in the court."

She said the killers had shown no remorse and acted as if they had done nothing wrong.

"No parent should lose their child, particularly in the way I have lost my Ben.

"My purpose in life and reason for getting up in the morning is my other wonderful son Karl.

"This, as you can imagine has ripped Karl's life apart - they were so close as brothers and people always remarked how well they got on unlike many of their friends. They were more like friends than brothers.

"I wake up some mornings and think I have had a terrible nightmare and that everything is normal but then the reality hits me and I realise my wonderful Ben has gone.

"Every day is a challenge for me. Ben's death was all so pointless and this adds to my pain.

"Our lives will never be the same again.

"On Christmas Eve 2005, Ben would have been 18 years old. I spent his birthday in the cemetery laying flowers on his grave.

"On Easter Sunder, I lay flowers on his grave.

Ben's father John Bellamy was also in court for sentencing

"We as a family always loved to go to Mumbles. Since Ben's death the only time we go to Mumbles is to the cemetery to lay flowers on his grave.

"The actions of Taylor, Thomas and Rafferty were vicious, evil and horrific that night and so pointless.

"I pray that they are prevented from hurting anyone else for as long as possible by going to prison for as long as possible to prevent anyone else going through the pain and anger that me and my family suffer on a daily basis.

"The way in which Ben died will haunt me for the rest of my life, particularly the way in which he was found.

"Taylor, Thomas and Rafferty have ripped our lives apart and we will never be the same again."