Family of Chelmsley Wood stab victim demand tougher sentences for knife crime

The distraught family of a fatal stabbing victim have demanded immediate prison sentences for anyone caught carrying a knife.

Lance Gregory’s relatives said the justice system was too soft on knife crime and tougher action was needed.

The 25-year-old, from Chelmsley Wood , was stabbed to death in November 2012.

Killer Carlton Pollock, then also 25, was jailed for ten years in 2013 after he was convicted by a jury of manslaughter.

Now Mr Gregory’s sisters, Marie and Emma Gregory, are campaigning to change the law and want to raise £8,000 to help victims of knife crime.

They said Pollock was due to be released after serving five years – a situation they said was an “insult”.

An online petition demanding longer sentences for knife-related incidents has so far received almost 1,800 signatures.

Marie, who organised the fundraising appeal, said her family had been abandoned since her brother’s death.

Writing on her GoFundMe page, she said: “Our family has not been offered any help whatsoever – no information, no caring or consideration, or offers of counselling.

“There’s been nothing.

“We were not kept informed of anything and I don’t want anyone else to have to go through that.

“I hope to be able to offer support and information – which is key – to anyone who is unfortunate enough to have face this impossible task.

“I hope to achieve a compulsory prison sentence for anyone caught with a knife.”

On her Change.org petition page, Emma said: “If you carry a knife and get caught, the police need to come down hard and fast.

“And, if a murder occurs using a knife, the sentence needs to reflect that they have taken a life and impacted on a whole family and a lot of other people.”

Lance was found lying fatally injured on the ground in Craig Croft, Chelmsley Wood, in the early hours of November 11 in 2012 with a single stab wound to his chest.

Pollock, of Moorend Avenue, was found guilty of manslaughter after handing himself into police.

The trial heard the stabbing took place during a row.

If you would like to donate, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/q9bym-lets-help-the-victims

To sign the petition, visit: https://www.change.org/p/marie-gregory-longer-sentences-for-knife-crime

Read more: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/family-chelmsley-wood-stab-victim-13538062