Murdered plumber Mark Webster was today praised as a "fine young man" who died trying to save his friends.

As his killer woke up to a life sentence today, police joined Mark's family and friends in paying tribute to the brave 21-year-old who had a "promising future" stolen from him.

The former Ilkley Grammar School pupil was killed while trying to restrain knifeman Leroy Griffith as he went on the rampage outside The Fleece pub in Main Street, Addingham, in the early hours of April 1 this year.

Barbados-born Griffith, of Ridley's Fold, Addingham, turned on crowds of customers after initially arguing with a woman in the pub's car park.

As others fled screaming, Mark, who had been enjoying a night out with his girlfriend Nadia Mitchell, approached the 37-year-old chef in a bid to pacify him.

Instead, Griffith thrust out with a kitchen knife, stabbing him fatally through the heart.

Mark was a popular personality in Adding-ham, having been brought up in the village before moving to Norwood, near Otley, with his mother.

As the jury announced its guilty verdict yesterday, Mark's father Tim and mother Valerie Wintersgill broke down in tears while others in the public gallery applauded and cheered.

Afterwards the grieving parents issued an emotional statement outside Leeds Crown Court.

It read: "We are absolutely delighted with the verdict.

"A dangerous man has been taken off the streets today.

"His sentence begins today but our sentence began on Easter Monday."

They said their "fun-loving" son was ill-equipped to deal with such violence.

"He was trying to protect his friends," they said. "He found himself in a situation that was totally alien to him having been brought up in the Yorkshire Dales."

Detective Inspector Gerry O'Shea, who led the investigation into Mark's death, said: "Mark Webster was a fine young man with a promising future. He was well regarded by everyone who knew him."

"Mark died bravely whilst trying to maintain the peace. I hope this verdict will be of some consolation to his family.

"I know it will not bring Mark back but I do hope it will ease their burden."

Det Insp O'Shea also praised those people who had been at the scene and provided information which helped convict Griffith.

After handing out the life sentence, Judge Peter Charlesworth described Mark as a "perfectly decent and fine young man".

Addressing his family and the wider Addingham community, he added: "I wish to express my sympathy and understand that in the fullness of time this can be put aside and life can move on."