A teenager who gunned down a South Woodham Ferrers man outside a petrol station has been sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Bradley Blundell, 19 fatally shot John Pordage, 34 in the early hours of August 5 last year at a BP garage in Baddow Road, Great Baddow.

He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today before an emotional public gallery filled with family and friends of Mr Pordage, himself and his co-defendant, 19-year-old Ella Colgate.

His Honour Judge Gratwicke sentenced him to 22 years in prison.

The family of John Pordage cheered in the court as the sentence was handed down - Blundell laughed in response.

Blundell was also sentenced for a number of other charges which will run alongside his sentence.

Blundell shot Mr Pordage twice in the chest, fleeing the scene immediately after the incident.

Mr Pordage, a former William De Ferrers school pupil was rushed to Broomfield Hospital where he sadly died from his injuries.

Halstead Gazette:

Blundell travelled to Maldon after the incident to destroy evidence that would connect him to the killing.

He later fled the country for seven months before he handed himself over to police in Amsterdam and agreed to be extradited back to the UK.

Blundell, 19, of Cromwell Close, Boreham was convicted of murder by a jury at Woolwich Crown Court, London in December last year.

He has since been remanded in the custody of Chelmsford Prison.

Colgate, of Aldridge Close, Chelmsford was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

She was found guilty in December of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, a charge she had denied.