How a teenage murderer got 79 knives delivered to his door

During the trial, the boy said some of the blades he ordered were confiscated; some he lost, others he sold.

Det Insp Jenkins said she was seeing more hunting knives and machetes used in fatal attacks, especially by “younger offenders”.

They were, she added, “horrific weapons” and “horrendously large”, making them “totally more dangerous” than kitchen knives.

“If you stab someone with a weapon like that, the likelihood of hitting a major organ is obviously increased,” she said.

Asked whether there was an “arms race” for bigger weapons, she said: “I’m not sure it comes down to that. I think it’s probably a little bit down to how accessible they are.”

DNA Leisure has previously said, external that “we age-check every order” and “we report all suspicious purchases”.