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The family of a man who was murdered in a Northampton flat one year ago say the pain of his loss feels like they are 'leaving Reece in the past' with every passing day.

A flower tribute was laid outside Cordwainer House in St James this weekend on the anniversary of Reece Ottaway's death.

The 23-year-old was stabbed to death by a gang of young men in the early hours of February 1, 2019, in a plot to rob Reece of drugs and "£30,000" in cash.

It has been one year since Reece Ottaway was murdered in a botched robbery at Cordwainer House.

Instead, after stabbing Reece some seven times, the gang escaped with a stolen iPhone and a £10 note. They were jailed for a total of more than 100 years in November 2019.On Saturday, Reece Ottaway's family returned to Cordwainer House to leave a tribute to to the 23-year-old one year on from his death.

Five balloons with messages from his family - Sonya, Charlotte, Lee, David and his younger siblings - have been taped to the fence outside the house, along with flowers and a framed tribute.

Reece's step-father Lee Marshall told the Chronicle & Echo: "It was a very hard emotional day and with each day that passes it feels like we are leaving Reece in the past.

"We had some of Reece's friends at our house with other family members to remember Reece, reflect on his life and share stories.

Reece Ottaway, pictured on his BMX. Over the weekend, balloons were released at the skate park in Daventry to remember him.

"Reece's little brother and sister with the help of some friends did a bagel shop, because Reece wanted to open one before his passing. They made fresh homemade bagels at their pretend 'Reece's Bagel Boy Shop'. It took their minds off what was a very sad day. Reece would be so proud of them too."

Across the day, there was also a balloon release at a skate park in Daventry where Reece enjoyed riding his BMX. There was also a modified car meet-up at the Meguiars car care shop in Daventry to celebrate Reece's love of modified cars.

Reece's father David said: "It's been a year on and things are still fresh and raw. It's hard to believe that this has happened."

It comes after last week when David spoke out about his family's grief a year after the attack.At court in November 2019, Jordan Crowley, 21, and Adison Smith 20, were jailed for life with a minimum term of 34 and 30 years in prison respectively.

Alfie Drage, 20, and Cameron Higgs, 20, were also jailed for life each with a minimum term of 27 years.

Ethan Stirling, 22, NFA, was jailed for 14 years for manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.

Flower tribute laid outside Northampton flat on one-year anniversary of Reece Ottaway's murder