On June 20, 2025, Harry Gilbertson was named and pictured for the first time as the teenage murderer of 12-year-old Ava White, following his 18th birthday. The horrific attack took place in November 2021 in Liverpool city centre, moments after the Christmas lights switch-on, when Gilbertson, then aged 14, stabbed Ava in the neck after a petty row over a Snapchat video.
For over three and a half years, reporting restrictions prevented the media from revealing Gilbertson's identity due to his age at the time of the offence. However, these restrictions lifted as he reached adulthood, allowing the public to finally know the name and face of the boy who took Ava's life. Ava's mother, Leeann White, 42, expressed a strong desire for the public to know who he was, saying, "I wanted the whole world to know who he was. I think Liverpool had the right to know who he was as well."
The tragic events unfolded on November 25, 2021, when Ava was out with friends near the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool city centre, enjoying the Christmas lights switch-on. Gilbertson and his group had been filming Ava's group on Snapchat, which sparked an argument. Ava demanded the video be deleted, but tensions escalated. Gilbertson, carrying a flick knife, stabbed Ava once in the neck. She stumbled onto nearby Church Alley, collapsing on the pavement while Gilbertson fled the scene, discarding his coat and weapon.
Despite immediate first aid from a passerby and paramedics rushing Ava to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, she tragically died shortly after. CCTV footage captured Gilbertson later taking a selfie in a shop and buying butter, which he said was for crumpets, before playing video games. During his trial, Gilbertson claimed self-defense and denied being in the city centre that night, alleging he was playing Call of Duty at a friend's house. However, the jury rejected his version after just over two hours of deliberation, convicting him of murder.
Sentenced at age 15, Gilbertson received a minimum of 13 years in custody. The trial judge, Mrs Justice Amanda Yip, acknowledged the unfairness felt by Ava's family, stating, "Unlike Ava you will still have a chance to grow up, but your life has been changed forever. You will only be released if you can show you are no longer a danger. Because of your age, you may be released while you are still a young man. I know that will seem unfair to Ava’s family when they have lost the chance to see her grow up." The judge also highlighted the tragic role social media played in the case, remarking that "something so small" as a Snapchat video led to Ava's death.
Gilbertson's background revealed a troubled youth. He had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attended a special school, and was reportedly desensitized to violence after witnessing domestic abuse. Prior to Ava's murder, he had been involved in other violent incidents, including an assault on a police community support officer and was known to police as potentially being groomed into a criminal gang.
Since his sentencing, Gilbertson has been reported to flaunt prison rules. A photograph recently surfaced on Snapchat showing him posing with his arms crossed in a blue Montirex tracksuit top, alongside another individual giving the middle finger. Ava’s mother voiced her anger and disbelief, stating, "The picture was taken on Snapchat. The same social media that he posted the video of Ava on before he murdered her. He has never shown any remorse. I don't call him by his name. I call him the monster." She added her frustration that Gilbertson was only "read the riot act" and received no formal punishment or loss of privileges, despite being in a secure unit where internet access should be restricted.
Ms. White also recounted an incident on Ava's 15th birthday in January 2024, when her nephew received a photograph from a seemingly fake Snapchat profile showing Gilbertson. Upon reporting, she was told the photo was taken during a visit and that Gilbertson had been using an iPad for educational purposes, with a system glitch allowing internet access. However, prison sources denied evidence of device access at that time.
Beyond her grief, Leeann White has channeled her pain into activism. She founded the Ava White Foundation, which provides bleed control kits to schools, pubs, youth clubs, and transport stations across the North West of England. These kits, containing gauze, trauma dressings, and tourniquets, have already saved at least six lives, including in a recent stabbing incident in Kirkby, Merseyside. The foundation also educates young people on the dangers of carrying knives and teaches life-saving skills.
Ms. White spoke candidly about the ongoing impact of Ava's death: "Since Ava's death, I no longer have good days, just OK days and really bad days. What keeps me going is I'm keeping Ava's name out there so she's not forgotten." She also expressed the bitter reality that Gilbertson had the chance to sit his GCSEs while Ava never did, lamenting, "It should have been Ava sitting her GCSEs, not him."
Reflecting on the court's decision to keep Gilbertson's identity protected until now, Ms. White acknowledged mixed feelings. She said, "With hindsight, I think Mrs Justice Yip was right to prevent him from being named initially. If the judge had named him then, he would probably be getting a new identity on his 18th birthday, so, in a way, I am glad she didn’t. I definitely don’t want that. I’ve waited all this time for his name to be out there." She criticized the disparity in protections, noting how her family had to explain Ava's death to younger relatives while Gilbertson's family was shielded.
Data from NHS Digital highlights a worrying trend: in 2023/24, English hospitals recorded 3,900 hospital episodes due to assaults by sharp objects, a 3.3% increase from the previous year and 7% since 2014/15. Merseyside Police continue efforts to reduce knife crime through open land searches, stop-and-search operations, and targeted initiatives.
The Ministry of Justice acknowledged the horrific nature of Ava's murder, expressing sympathy for her family and emphasizing efforts to clamp down on social media use in prisons. A spokesperson said, "No victim should ever have to see their perpetrators appearing online. We’ve put in place tough measures to clamp down on the use of social media in prisons and have committed to review how we could extend these controls to all places of custody."
Ava, described as "unique and hugely popular," was a pupil at Notre Dame Catholic College in Everton. Her mother recalled her as "the life and soul of the party," a happy and healthy child adored by her family. The loss of such a vibrant young life has left a lasting void.
As Harry Gilbertson steps into adulthood, his name now publicly known, the shadow of that dreadful night in Liverpool lingers. Ava’s mother, sister, and extended family continue to fight against knife crime, hoping to spare others from similar tragedy. Through the Ava White Foundation, they strive to transform grief into action, ensuring Ava’s legacy endures far beyond the headlines.
