{"id":8359,"date":"2026-07-09T23:06:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T23:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/our-son-was-exploited-by-a-gang-at-age-13-and-savagely-stabbed-to-death\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T23:06:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T23:06:56","slug":"our-son-was-exploited-by-a-gang-at-age-13-and-savagely-stabbed-to-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/our-son-was-exploited-by-a-gang-at-age-13-and-savagely-stabbed-to-death\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Our son was exploited by a gang at age 13 and savagely stabbed to death&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_3d5bec\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">EXCLUSIVE: Emma Dix said her son Joe had a normal upbringing with a traditional family background but got trapped in a county lines gang after being approached in a park after school<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37411222\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Emma and her husband Phil have since set up an anti-knife crime charity in Joe\u2019s name, \" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411222.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Emma-Dix.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411222.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Emma-Dix.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411222.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Emma-Dix.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411222.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Emma-Dix.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Emma and her husband Phil have since set up an anti-knife crime charity in Joe\u2019s name\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Emma and her husband Phil have since set up an anti-knife crime charity in Joe\u2019s name<cite aria-label=\"Image: Emma Dix\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Emma Dix)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A mum whose teenage son was stabbed to death has said child exploitation \u201cdestroys\u201d families.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Emma Dix\u2019s 18-year-old son Joe was \u201csavagely\u201d stabbed seven times in 2022 in Norwich after he was lured into a gang just age 13. Emma said Joe had a normal upbringing with a traditional family background but got trapped in a county lines gang after being approached in a park after school.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He would often go missing, at one point for 10 days, and aged 15 was charged after being arrested in a property with \u00a312,000-worth of drugs money there, his mum said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe years and years of Joe like being exploited just destroys you as a family,\u201d Emma told The Mirror. \u201cAs a child, it stole his childhood away from him. The pressure on him, he used to get so cross. There were almost two sides of Joe. When he was at home, he was this family-loving young man. He was funny and he used to take the mick out of us all and stuff like that.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37411159\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37411159\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.77818853974122\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Joe Dix was stabbed seven times in 2022 in Norwich\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411159.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/3_Mum-tells-of-heartache-after-teen-soons-murder-sparked-tit-for-tat-killing-as-citys-gang-war-flare.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411159.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/3_Mum-tells-of-heartache-after-teen-soons-murder-sparked-tit-for-tat-killing-as-citys-gang-war-flare.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411159.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/3_Mum-tells-of-heartache-after-teen-soons-murder-sparked-tit-for-tat-killing-as-citys-gang-war-flare.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411159.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/3_Mum-tells-of-heartache-after-teen-soons-murder-sparked-tit-for-tat-killing-as-citys-gang-war-flare.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Joe Dix was stabbed seven times in 2022 in Norwich\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Joe Dix was stabbed seven times in 2022 in Norwich<cite aria-label=\"Image: Emma Dix \/ SWNS\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Emma Dix \/ SWNS)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cAnd then, when he was out, he was just this completely different person. And obviously, we never sort of got him back, and we had loads of help from social services, and the police, and the school were really good, but he just got too deeply involved in that sort of lifestyle in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She said her son got a phone call one normal Friday evening when he \u201cwas having his tea\u201d, telling him to \u201ccome and help because the flat is being robbed\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She continued: \u201cJoe basically off and went, and when he got there, there were three people from a rival gang in Norwich that basically were all armed with knives, attacked Joe quite savagely, and then they walked off and left him there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Emma and her husband Phil have since set up an anti-knife crime charity in Joe\u2019s name, which opened Norfolk\u2019s first knife-surrender bin on the fourth anniversary of their son\u2019s death in January.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hans Beeharry, Benjamin Gil and Cameron Palmer were convicted in the killing of Mr Dix at Norwich Crown Court in October 2023.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37410917\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37410917\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.7120954003407156\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Mirror joined British Transport Police (BTP) officers on a major county lines operation on Tuesday\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37410917.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_AHP_CHP_42786.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37410917.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_AHP_CHP_42786.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37410917.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_AHP_CHP_42786.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37410917.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_AHP_CHP_42786.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The Mirror joined British Transport Police (BTP) officers on a major county lines operation on Tuesday\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The Mirror joined British Transport Police (BTP) officers on a major county lines operation on Tuesday<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ruthless county lines gangs that exploit vulnerable kids to do their \u201cdirty work\u201d trafficking drugs or carrying weapons faced record criminal action in the last year. Almost 3,000 drug dealing lines have been shut down and just shy of 1,500 knives have been seized under a relentless drive to break the criminal network.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Mirror<\/a> joined <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/british-transport-police\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">British Transport Police<\/a> (BTP) officers on a major county lines operation on Tuesday where more than 40 uniformed or undercover police officers, drug <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/teamdogs\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">dogs<\/a> and safeguarding experts descended on Stratford train station in east London.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Emma welcomed the Government\u2019s county lines crackdown but also called for more support for children after they turn 18. \u201cChild criminal exploitation is a form of child abuse, so it&#8217;s when the adults are using the child for their own personal gain to do illegal things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe difficulty is, though, what happens when they turn 18? They&#8217;re not one day a victim and the next day a perpetrator.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She said Joe went from having three meetings a week and contact with social workers to \u201cnothing\u201d when he turned 18. \u201cIn my eyes, Joe lasted a month into 18, that was it. I\u2019m not saying it was because he didn\u2019t have any of that support, but that couldn\u2019t have helped,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/politics\/joe-dix-knife-crime-gangs-37411144\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EXCLUSIVE: Emma Dix said her son Joe had a normal upbringing with a traditional family<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8360,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0_Emma-Dix.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8359"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8359\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}