A JUDGE told Alex Rodda's killer he tried to 'sneak away' with a conviction for the teenager's murder.

His Honour Judge Everett, The Honourary Recorder for Chester, said the evidence against 19-year-old Matthew Mason had been 'overwhelming' during the month long trial at Chester Crown Court.

He said: "You have been convicted on overwhelming evidence.

"You ran this trial for as long as you could to try and sneak away from a conviction for murder."

The Judge had earlier thanked the jury for their efforts, which included more than nine hours of deliberation, before they returned the majority verdict against Mason.

He said: "This was a difficult case.

"Nobody ever said being on a jury was easy and sometimes you have to listen to terrible things.

"You should be thanked for what you've done in these truly testing times, in the midst of a global pandemic."

Mason, of Ash Lane, Ollerton denied deliberately killing 15-year-old Alex, saying instead he had lost control, despite admitting hitting him with a wrench 15 times in secluded woodland in Ashley on December 12, 2019.

Mason will return to Chester Crown Court on January 25 where he will be sentenced.