A young man who was “always happy and always smiling” was stabbed to death in a revenge attack in Croydon last year, while two men have been found guilty of murder. Bradley Hutchins, 20, was stabbed multiple times, along with a 19-year-old, on North Walk in New Addington on September 12, 2023.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder and later charged. Shane Canavan, 23, and his half-brother Joshua Langley, 28, were found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court following a trial on Monday, July 8.

On September 12, police were called to reports of a fight on North Walk. After being stabbed, Bradley and his friend went to the nearby New Addington London Ambulance Service base, where Bradley died from a stab wound to the chest. The attacked teenager was also seriously injured and is still receiving treatment for his injuries more than six months later.

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After the Metropolitan Police launched a murder investigation, detectives found a crowbar, a spanner, a knife and a balaclava at the scene of the fight on North Walk between Bradley, his friend and two assailants. Police deduced that one of the assailants was Canavan, who had attacked Bradley and his friend a few days earlier but had come off worse. But Canavan wanted to finish the job, so he called Langley and arrived with a knife and a balaclava.

Detective Inspector Matt Read, who led the investigation, said: “We were able to quickly identify Canavan and Langley as the perpetrators of this horrific attack. We established that Canavan had been involved in a fistfight with Bradley and the other man a few days earlier, where he had been the aggressor but had come off worse. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured at the time.

“However, Canavan could not resist and went in search of the two victims, this time with a knife. When he found himself outnumbered by the pair and some friends, he called for help from his half-brother Langley, and he himself also arrived with a knife and a balaclava.

“A fight ensued during which Bradley and the other victim fought back with improvised weapons, but they were both stabbed multiple times.”

DI Read added: “Our thoughts today are first and foremost with Bradley’s family after the enormous devastation they have suffered. Not only did they lose Bradley in terrible and unnecessary circumstances, but they also had the added sorrow of another family member being seriously injured. He is still receiving treatment for his injuries to this day.”

Bradley’s family said: “We are obviously delighted with this verdict and are pleased that these two men are now off the streets, where they can no longer hurt anyone. We are grateful to everyone who helped bring about this conviction today.

“In reality, it is not a victory for us, because we lost our son and brother. Bradley was the best son a mother could ask for – he was always happy, always smiling and was known by many people for his kindness, always willing to help others. He will always be remembered as our hero.

“Bradley was yet another young person killed in a senseless knife attack. More must be done to tackle knife crime, save lives and prevent another family from being devastated by the devastating loss of someone they love. No parent should ever have to experience the loss of a child.”

Canavan and Langley will be sentenced on Tuesday, August 6.

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