A teenager was murdered by a Shropshire man because he fell in love with the wrong woman, his family said today.

Also see: Girlfriends’ vow to stand by murderer

Simon Everitt’s devastated family said there were “no words” to describe their son’s three killers, who included Telford man Jonathan Clarke.

Clarke, 20, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Malinslee, was yesterday found guilty of murdering the 17-year-old student, at Norwich Crown Court.

Co-accused Jimi-Lee Stewart, 25, and Maria Chandler, 40, both from Yarmouth were also found guilty. All three had denied murder.

Clarke and his two friends kidnapped Mr Everitt before putting him in the boot of a car and taking him to some secluded woods at Mautby, Norfolk.

Clarke and Stewart then tied him to a tree and forced him to drink petrol before Clarke threw a lit match at Mr Everitt.

They then covered his burned remains with soil, which was discovered days later after a police probe was launched.

Devastated

In a statement, Mr Everitt’s devastated parents, Vince and Susan Everitt, said he was a “loving son and brother” who “loved life and lived it to the full, never wanting to waste a minute”.

She said the horror of his death would make their grieving even more difficult.

Mrs Everitt said her son was killed “after falling in love with the wrong woman”.

He was murdered after both Clarke and Stewart had relationships with the same woman as he did. The woman then ended her relationships with Mr Everitt’s murderers to return to him.

Yesterday after Clarke was found guilty, his girlfriend, Kerri Glover, from Telford, who is the mother of his children said she was “devastated” by the verdict but would stand by her boyfriend.

Detectives who led the hunt for Mr Everitt’s killers said it was one of the most “horrific” cases in the history of the force.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Strongsaid: “This was not the result of impulsive behaviour, but a planned abduction and execution in the most awful manner.”

All three will be sentenced on June 26.

By Kirsty Smallman