A mother has spoken of the loss of her "creative and trusting" son who was stabbed to death.

Unemployed traveller, Frank Smith, 30, of Corbet Close, Hackbridge, was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, December 14, of murdering the popular 36-year-old Damon Weedon.

Smith has been jailed for life for murdering the father-of-three who it is believed had made a drunken pass at him.

Smith, who is the father of three girls, will serve a minimum of 16 years.

Mr Weedon’s mother, Victoria, described losing her only child incomprehensible and said: "Words alone cannot convey the pain and suffering that I have endured since the day I found out Damon had been killed."

Victoria was very close to Mr Weedon, her only child, who she said was a talented artist and poet.

Mr Weedon, the father of three boys, was also known for his BMX riding, rapping and tattooing.

She said: "Damon was highly creative and very opinionated; he had his own moral code, sticking to his principals and never tolerating fakeness.

"We shared a similar sense of humour, sometimes a bit dark, and sometimes just plain silly.

“I gave birth to Damon when I was very young, but despite my youth I knew that he would be my only child.

“All my love and focus went on him, and I would have found it impossible to love Damon as deeply and completely as I did, if I'd had another child.

“My love for Damon was exclusive. As the years went on, the age gap seemed to get smaller.

“I have not just lost my only child, but my best friend too. Now I am just left with a huge void.”

She said Mr Weedon was willing to help anyone who needed it and had a trusting nature.

She added: "I would like to know what triggered Frank Smith to commit such a heinous deed that night, but I do know that nothing Damon could have said or done would have warranted it.

"For any parent to mourn the death of their only child is a complete tragedy.  But the circumstances in which Damon was taken from me and his children, only amplifies our suffering."

The court heard Smith had calmly stabbed Mr Weedon to death after it is believed that Mr Weedon had made a drunken pass at him at his home in Typhoon Way on the Roundshaw Estate in Wallington, just hours after they had first met.

On May 31 this year Mr Weedon, Smith and their mutual friend Thomas Brookman-Miller had been drinking heavily after decorating Smith’s partner’s house in nearby Meteor Way.

After picking up more beers they went back to Mr Weedon's house and played the computer game Guitar Hero.

It is thought the father-of-three then made a drunken advance towards Smith.

Smith, who had been sat on the sofa with Mr Weedon, suddenly got up and asked where the toilet was.

He walked out of the lounge and returned with a kitchen knife, lunging at Mr Weedon, leaving three gashes on his face and head.

It is then believed that he armed himself with another knife and chased Mr Weedon from the flat stabbing him twice more in the back.

Mr Weedon tried to escape along Redford Avenue before collapsing against a fence and impaling his right arm on a set of railings.

Smith was stopped by police in Defiant Way and arrested soon after.

He was found guilty on Friday by a jury following the trial. Smith claimed during the trial that he had stabbed at Mr Weedon in a fight after Mr Weedon set his dog on him, but had not made contact.

Detective Inspector Rick Murphy, who led the investigation from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "This was a pointless death simply fuelled by the consumption of too much alcohol.

"It appears that Mr Weedon and Smith had enjoyed a pleasant day together until the sudden violent attack on Mr Weedon.

"Three children are now left without a father and Smith's own children will also lose out being with their own father who will now be serving a lengthy sentence."