A BRAVE mum described how she held her stabbed 16-year-old son in her arms as his life ebbed away-praying her moving story will stun the nation into action.

Grieving Michelle Jeacock's agony over the murder of son Buster stunned listeners at the News of the World's first Save Our Streets roadshow.

She revealed: "My son went out one night and never came home. He was stabbed at the end of my road.

"I ran out and found him collapsed just yards from my front door. He had been knifed in the neck and the blade had severed an artery. There was so much blood we couldn't even find the wound.

"I held him as he died. I watched my son's life slip away. It is the most terrible thing that can happen to a mum- watching her boy die."

Michelle, who was among the audience at our London roadshow, is now demanding a minimum 25-YEAR jail sentence for murder.

Listening to her story on the panel were (above, clockwise from top left) victim's father Mark Prince, Prof Gloria Laycock, director of the Jill Dando Institute, Britain's top cop Sir Ian Blair, government crime adviser Louise Casey, Nick Ross, the ex-Crimewatch TV presenter, Tory Shadow Justice Minister Nick Herbert and News of the World columnist Carole Malone.

Michelle's son Julian, known as Buster, was slain after defending a crippled friend picked on by a gang in Thamesmead, south London.

Anguish

His killer Stelios Paraschakis, 19, was jailed for at least 18 years. Michelle, 40, recalled: "The killer was lurking in a dark alley with seven mates and ran at Buster with a knife in each hand. He stabbed him from behind-he didn't stand a chance.

"Buster will never come back. But one day the man who killed him will walk free. He should serve a minimum of 25 years."

Buster's aunt, Karen, also spoke movingly at our Save Our Streets roadshow, video of which can be seen by clinking on the link on this page.

We launched our SOS roadshow in Greenwich, south London, a few miles from where another 16-year-old, Jimmy Mizen, and Harry Potter star Rob Knox, 18, were knifed to death. With further debates planned in coming weeks across the nation, we are seeking ways to curb the wave of violence wrecking so many lives.

Met police chief Sir Ian confessed he was touched when another anguished mum, CAROL MARTIN, stood up and told how she had to buy her son a coffin for his 24th birthday.

Her life was shattered when son James was stabbed three times after his girlfriend discovered he was having an affair. His killer walked free when the court found she had acted in self-defence.

Housewife Carol, 54, told how, five years on, her nine-year-old son still asks: "Mummy, why isn't she in prison?" Carol says: "It's a question I just can't answer. The British justice system is a joke."

Sir Ian vowed to do all he could to stop more parents facing similar emotional torture. The police commissioner said: "I believe my organisation needs to make sure other mothers don't have that experience.

"I thank the News of the World for what they are doing and I'm sure the Met and other forces will continue to support the campaign."

MARK PRINCE, whose 15-year-old son Kiyan was stabbed to death when he tried to save a boy being bullied, called on parents of young thugs to take reponsibility for their actions. Mark, a 39-year-old former boxer who is now a youth worker, said he'd decided to forgive his son's killer and wants to visit him in jail.

"It was a personal choice and something I had to do to find peace," the dad-of-five explained. "It's the only way I'm able to help other grieving parents and troubled teenagers."

But he added: "We need tougher sentences to teach teenagers that crime and violence is wrong."

Distraught mum LYNNE BOOKER told how her son Terry, 19, was killed by a 16-year-old wielding a 12-inch carving knife in a row over a girl.

The boy was jailed for a minimum of ten years in 2001. Lynne, 53, from Plumstead, south London, now runs a counselling service to help other parents who have lost children.

She explained she had to scratch around for funding to help her 30-strong group and pleaded for the government to provide more aid. Host Nick Ross was so moved by her story he offered to donate money to her charity, the Terry Booker Foundation.

Lynne said: "It's been an amazing evening. I am overwhelmed. It means so much to my group."

Grieving Carol Martin recalled how she turned to Lynne for help. She blasted the official victim support network, claiming her police liaison officer switched off his phone after the trial - on the day she needed him most.

"I was dropped like a stone after the trial," she raged. "I never heard from him again. It was excruciating. If I hadn't met Lynne Booker and her group I wouldn't be here today."

VICTORIA BANE, 39, told how she had begged the courts to jail her out-of-control son, aged 17.

He was finally given a two-year jail term for GBH after he'd been charged with ten separate offences.

Mrs Bane, from Orpington, Kent, said: "Prison doesn't scare him. He walked out of court and rubbed his hands, smiled and said, 'Cushty'. He was continually let out to reoffend. Who was thinking about the rights of the innocent people he had beaten up?"

Woolwich resident PAT ADSHEAD, 60, also urged police to be given more powers to act on troubled estates in London. Her ex-husband's hand was severed when three masked men burst into their home with machetes earlier this month.

The mum-of-four said it was a case of mistaken identity but the attackers only fled when a neighbour called the police. She added: "I was petrified. Now I can't relax in my own house because I'm so scared."

Methodist minister the REV NANCY ODUNEWU, whose son was killed outside Lewisham police station, said: "It breaks my heart. When is this going to stop? As parents we have to educate our kids and be proactive."

Olympic hero JOHN REGIS, 41, agreed. The sprint star's nephew Adam was stabbed to death in March. John warned: "If we don't act things are only going to get a lot worse.We all need to take responsibility."

Click for details of knives and the law

Our goal: No more victims

All of the young people pictured below have lost their lives on the streets of Britain in the past few months.

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