Boys sentenced for stoning death

The widow of a man who died after coming under a hail of stones and rocks hurled by boys said his death left her "lost, irritable and lonely".

Ernest Norton, 67, was playing cricket with his son at a leisure centre in Erith, south-east London, when the pair were attacked by the youngsters - now aged between 12 and 14 - in February 2006.

Five boys have been sentenced at the Old Bailey to two years' detention for killing Mr Norton who collapsed with a heart attack during the assault.

Linda Norton was at court with her son James, daughter Gemma, son-in-law Wayne, and Gemma's eight-week-old daughter Ceinwen.

In the statement read out by Anthony Orchard, prosecuting, she described how she had first met "Ernie" in 1968 and they married in 1975.

He had been a "house husband" since losing his job as a draughtsman shortly before the birth of Gemma in 1981. Their son James was born in 1988.

Describing the effect of her husband's death, she said: "In 2006 life was flowing along lovely, everything was normal and you think it will never change.

"Then bang, your life is turned upside down and you have to run on automatic.

"Ernie's death has affected our lives in so many ways, we are still trying to be normal and enjoy ourselves again but I don't think I ever will."

Ernie's death has affected our lives in so many ways, we are still trying to be normal and enjoy ourselves again but I don't think I ever will Linda Norton, wife Wife and son watched him die Parents told to control boys

Mrs Norton's feelings, many of which were "just too horrible to describe", included being "lost, irritable and lonely", she said.

She added: "When I see other couples out, especially older couples, I think to myself, they are together, why aren't we?

"I miss Ernie just not being there, we did most things together.

"He was always there for me in every way imaginable. He was a kind hearted man who looked after his family and friends."

The death had a "dramatic effect" on Gemma, and Mr Norton was unable to be there for the "once in a lifetime occasion" of the birth of her daughter.

Describing the effect on James, Mrs Norton said: "Not only was he there and watched his dad die in front of him, he lost his role model at such an important time of his life.

"Now his dad has gone we try to support each other. James is unable to find the words to describe his feelings and the huge change in his life.

"To put things simply, the house is just empty without Ernie and life will never be the same again."