Brazen murderer posed for selfie from behind bars on Ava’s birthday as grieving mother says: ‘He’s got no remorse’
THE teenager who stabbed 12-year-old Ava White to death after a row over a Snapchat video can finally be named as Harry Gilbertson after turning 18.
The cold-blooded killer was just 14 when he plunged a flick knife into innocent Ava’s neck during Liverpool’s Christmas lights switch-on in November 2021 – then laughed and ran away.
Now, as reporting restrictions lift on his 18th birthday, Ava’s devastated mother Leeann has revealed the full horror of her daughter’s senseless murder – and exposed how her killer taunted the family from behind bars.
SICK SELFIE FROM BEHIND BARS
In a sickening twist, Gilbertson sent a photograph of himself posing with his arms crossed to Ava’s family on what would have been her 15th birthday in January 2024.
The brazen image, sent from a fake Snapchat profile, showed the unrepentant killer alongside another male making an obscene gesture at the camera.
“I felt really angry when I saw the picture,” said heartbroken Leeann, 42. “I can never have a photograph with my child now so why does he have the right?”
Prison bosses claimed Gilbertson had exploited a “glitch” that allowed him to access the internet on an iPad meant for educational purposes. Despite being “read the riot act,” he received no formal punishment.
‘HE’S GOT NO REMORSE’
Fighting back tears, Leeann revealed her belief that Gilbertson feels no guilt for robbing her of her “baby girl.
“I think he’s got understanding of what he’s done – he’s quite a clever child,” she said. “He’s got understanding, he’s just got no remorse.
“It really doesn’t feel like justice. He still gets to live and breathe. My Ava doesn’t. His mum can see him getting married, having a baby. I’m never going to have that with Ava.”
THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
On November 25, 2021, excited Ava had gone into Liverpool city centre with friends to watch the Christmas lights being switched on.
The popular Year 8 pupil at Notre Dame Catholic College was filmed by Gilbertson and his gang as they shared alcohol near the Royal Court Theatre.
When Ava asked them to stop recording and delete the video, an argument erupted. The unarmed schoolgirl and her friends ran towards the boys – and Gilbertson pulled out a 7.5cm flick knife.
He stabbed Ava once in the neck, causing catastrophic injuries, before fleeing the scene laughing.
CHILLING AFTERMATH
CCTV footage showed the callous killer throwing away his coat and the murder weapon as he ran. He was later captured on camera in a shop taking a selfie and buying butter, which he claimed was “for crumpets.”
When his mother contacted him to say police were looking for him, he texted back: “Not coming home, not going the cells.
Despite desperate attempts by members of the public and paramedics to save her, Ava was pronounced dead at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital at 10:16pm.
FAMILY’S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
Throughout his trial and sentencing, Gilbertson’s identity was protected by law – despite pleas from Ava’s family and the media to name him.
“I wanted the whole world to know who he was,” said Leeann. I think Liverpool had the right to know who he was as well.
Trial judge Mrs Justice Yip had cited concerns for Gilbertson’s younger siblings, one of whom hadn’t even been told their brother was on trial for murder.
This infuriated Leeann, who said: “Yet I had to sit my little nephews and nieces down and tell them about Ava, but they could hide everything for him. I feel like they’ve done everything they can to protect him and his family.”
KILLER’S CUSHY LIFE BEHIND BARS
While Ava’s family struggle with their grief, Gilbertson has been allowed to sit his GCSEs in custody.
“It should have been Ava sitting her GCSEs, not him,” sobbed Leeann.
The murderer was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to life with a minimum of 13 years – meaning he could be free by the age of 28.
MOTHER’S DAILY TORMENT
Leeann revealed she no longer has “good days” – only “OK days and really bad days.”
“I was once outgoing, but I now dread each new day,” she said. My baby was murdered. All this horror was caused by an individual who insisted on recording Ava on his phone. She was 12 years old, a child.”
Her older daughter Mia, 18, experiences daily flashbacks and says the pain is “never-ending.”
LEGACY OF HOPE
Despite their unimaginable loss, Ava’s family have channeled their grief into saving lives through the Ava White Foundation, which provides bleed control kits to schools, pubs and businesses.
At least six lives have already been saved by the kits, including two teenagers stabbed in Kirkby who survived thanks to emergency treatment using equipment donated in Ava’s name.
“I think every establishment should have one,” said Leeann. The way knife crime is, it’s not going down, it’s getting worse. Everyone needs to be aware of this training, it’s so easy.”
THE KILLER EXPOSED
Now that he can finally be named, Harry Gilbertson’s face and identity are public for the first time.
The teenager from south Liverpool showed no emotion as he was convicted of murder after initially claiming self-defense. He had first tried to blame another boy before changing his story.
Sentencing him, Mrs Justice Yip told Gilbertson: “There is only one reason why Ava is dead – because you chose to carry a knife and chose to get it out and use it. It was a nasty weapon, and you should not have had it.”
For Leeann, naming her daughter’s killer brings mixed emotions but allows her to focus on what matters most.
“I try not to think about him if I’m being honest, because if I do, I’m just taking a million steps back,” she said. So I just try to focus on Ava and doing stuff for her legacy is more important to me than thinking about him.
