Tonight, a TV documentary will share the tragic story of a schoolboy, Alex Rodda, who was bludgeoned to death by his lover, Matthew Mason, in a brutal woodland attack.

In 2019, Mason was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing 15-year-old Alex. ITV's Social Media Murders will feature this horrific case.

The documentary reveals that Mason's fear of their sexual relationship being exposed drove him to repeatedly strike Alex with a wrench in a secluded area. The 18-year-old had developed an online relationship with Alex, sending him explicit images that eventually led to a sexual encounter.

In the weeks leading to the murder, Mason paid Alex to keep their relationship a secret. On December 12, 2019, he picked Alex up from his home and drove him to woods outside Altrincham.

There, Mason committed a 'violent, repetitive assault with a blunt weapon', ultimately killing the pupil from Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School. Afterward, he stayed with Alex's body for about an hour before abandoning it and going for a pint with friends to create an alibi.

Mason received a life sentence with a minimum term of 28 years before being eligible for parole. Following an appeal, this minimum term was reduced to 26 years.

The upcoming documentary examines the influence of social media in this case, featuring insights from Alex's friends, family, and experts reflecting on the events that transpired over five years ago. The synopsis states: "Experts explore the case of schoolboy Alex Rodda, who received a flirty message from an older man that led to his being bludgeoned to death six weeks later."

The show airs on ITV1 at 10.50pm tonight, February 15.