“It’s very hard because we can look back and say, as parents, we did our best job, loved him to bits and always tried to be there for him and talk to him.”īike-mad Olly, who had autism, was “ambushed” at Bugs Bottom field in Emmer Green on the afternoon of Sunday January 3 after he had apparently sought to defend another boy who was being humiliated in a group chat. Mrs Stephens added: “If you don’t like the sound of friends, there probably is a very good reason why. “Just keep going until you feel comfortable and trust your gut reactions as well.”

She said: “Keep asking questions, be suspicious, try not to be put off – you get batted away by your children, when you ask questions you don’t get answers. Mrs Stephens said she had “no idea” at the time how badly her son was being treated by others. Stuart and Amanda Stephens said they remain “broken” after the death of their “generous, caring and loving” 13-year-old son in January this year, when he was lured to a park in Reading and fatally stabbed over an apparent online dispute with fellow schoolchildren.Īsked what words of advice they would offer to parents of children their son’s age, Mr Stephens said: “Take their phones off them and don’t give them back.” Olly Stephens was lured to a park where he was stabbed to death (Thames Valley Police/PA)

The mother and father of murdered schoolboy Olly Stephens have urged the parents of teenage children to “take their phones off them” after warning how social media “played a massive part” in their son’s death.

Olly stephens