Family's 'nightmare' since 22 year-old's death

She said: "He absolutely loved life. He was training to be an electrician and was due to qualify this year, but had been working for an electrical company in Marylebone.

"Lewis was going to set up his own business and had already had his business cards printed. I remember how happy he was when he was doing them. He had such a bright future.

"He was just a lovely young lad. He loved cycling, and would go everywhere on his bike. And he had many many friends."

Lewis spent his time living with his mum in Westbourne Crescent and with his girlfriend in Pinner, and would come and go between the two.

As a young boy he was a keen actor and had shared the stage with Julie Walters, but never pursued drama into adulthood.

Mrs Ghessen continued: "He was the backbone of our family. The life in our family. It has been so unbelievably hard since we lost him. I just don't know what to do.

"Life has been an absolute nightmare since he died. I feel as though someone's put me in a can and just shaken and shaken and shaken me.

"We couldn't even afford to pay for his funeral. You don't expect to lose your own son and not be able to afford a funeral for him.

"We have had hardly any support, so now I've just been left with a dead son and a pile of bills."

Dominic Morris, 18, of Leavesden Road, Watford, and a 16 year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered no pleas at Hendon Magistrates Court on Wednesday (22) and will reappear at Harrow Crown Court on April 25.