London knife crime: Man charged with murder of 18-year-old Jay Sewell

Teenager's death brings number of killings in capital this year to highest level since 2009

Jay Sewell suffered fatal stab wounds and was found in a street in south London (Metropolitan Police)

A man has been charged with the murder of an 18-year-old after he was stabbed to death, becoming the 130th homicide victim in London this year.

Jay Sewell was attacked by youths armed with baseball bats and knives on a residential street in south London on Tuesday night.

Charlie Dudley, 25, of no fixed address, is charged with Mr Sewell's murder and will appear in custody at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Monday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Mr Sewell was stabbed in Alwold Crescent in Lee, near Eltham, just before 10pm on Tuesday.

He was driven to a south London hospital by friends but was pronounced dead at 10.40pm, about 40 minutes after police were called to the scene of the crime.

Another 18-year-old man that he was with was also injured, but has since been discharged from hospital.

Five men and two women, aged between 18 and 56, who were arrested as part of the probe into Mr Sewell's killing have been released while inquiries continue.

Mr Sewell’s death brings the number of killings in a year in the capital to the highest level since 2009, when there were 131. In 2008, there were 154 homicides in London.

The 130 homicides this year in London include 73 stabbings and 14 shootings.

Just over a third of victims were aged between 16 and 24, and 24 have been teenagers.

Additional reporting by PA