LEE Dent will serve a minimum of 22 years after being sentenced to life for the murder of Alex Peguero Sosa at Plymouth Crown Court last Friday.

Father of three Dent, 42, was found guilty after eight hours of jury deliberations, ending in jury members rejecting unanimously his version of events after the two-week trial.

Alex, 17, was a ­promising footballer and sixth-form student at Kingsbridge Comm-unity College. He was murdered by Dent ­following an altercation at Kingsbridge bus ­station in the early hours of July 6, 2014.

The court heard that Dent and Alex were both socialising separately with groups of friends in Kingsbridge on Saturday night, July 5. The two groups ­coincided on the quay, where an argument began over a video being taken with a mobile phone.

This argument escalated and ended when Dent stabbed Alex in the neck with a broken bottle, resulting in ­massive blood loss and his death at 4am in Derriford Hospital.

High Court judge Mr Justice Nigel Teare imposed a life ­sentence, with Dent having to serve a ­minimum of 22 years before he will be ­considered for parole.

Dent had claimed he was acting in self-defence and was unaware that he was holding a broken bottle in his hand when he struck the Aveton Gifford teenager.

But Mr Justice Teare said: 'You picked up a broken bottle and you could only have done so for it to be available. It was a lethal weapon.'

He ruled that the murder was not racially motivated, but said that the 'provocation was slight', that Dent 'should have taken no notice' of it and that Alex 'did not, as the jury found, threaten to stab you'.

Detective Inspector Ian Ringrose, the senior investigating officer, said: 'We're pleased with today's verdict.

'This was a rare and horrific attack on a popular young man who was a promising football player with a bright future ahead of him.

'This was an act of pure violence that resulted in a tragic and completely unnecessary loss of life.

'The Major Crime Investigation Team worked extremely hard to determine the events that occurred on the night of the attack on Alex, in order to ascertain all motivating factors, including any racial implications.

'The court has recognised the racial factors in this murder and has rightly sentenced Dent to a significant term of imprisonment.

'This type of attack is very unusual in Devon and Cornwall, and this case should serve as

a reminder to any ­individual who may commit such treacherous acts that we will not tolerate prejudice or hostility.

'This has been a complex and meticulous inquiry and I would like to thank all those who worked tirelessly on this case.

'We recognise that the trial has been a very difficult and highly ­distressing time for the family, and that Alex's murder has caused considerable shock within the local community.

'Our thanks go to the staff of Kingsbridge Community College, who have assisted police in this case and have provided excellent support for the students in exceptionally sad ­circumstances.

'The young people in the town reacted to this tragic event with ­dignity and grace and have been a credit to themselves and the local community. We hope the fact that justice has been served today will help them in their grieving.'

Following Dent's sentencing, Henry Felton, 23, was handed a 16-month prison ­sentence, suspended for two years, and 200 hours of unpaid work after he admitted ­assisting Dent by helping him change his bloodstained clothes.