Mum of stab victim Nicholas Ormerod takes knife campaign into schools (From Bournemouth Echo)

Mum of stab victim Nicholas Ormerod takes knife campaign into schools

12:00pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Jane Reader

A GRIEVING mum whose son was stabbed to death is taking her anti-knife crime message into schools across Dorset.

Jane Ormerod of Southbourne is setting up a new charity to raise awareness of the effects of knife crime – two years after she lost her son.

The official launch will be at AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Court ground next month.

Jane’s son Nicholas was stabbed to death by homeless alcoholic Mark Haylock in Boscombe in April 2011.

Haylock was jailed for eight years and it was later revealed he had a previous conviction for a knife-related crime which was not disclosed to the jury.

Turn Your Back aims to introduce knife awareness sessions into the county’s secondary schools to change attitudes to carrying knives at a young age.

One of the trustees is Dorset’s police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill, who joined the charity before his election as PCC. He will join Jane at the launch.

Jane, of Cranleigh Road, has already taken part in a number of knife awareness events and recently made a video about her son’s life in a bid to get the message across.

Announcing plans to establish the charity, Jane told the Daily Echo: “This campaign is not something I thought I would ever be involved in. Now I’m shouting from the rooftops because now is the time.

“We’re never going to wipe out crime but if we all sit back and do nothing then how is it going to change?”

The charity will be launched at half time in Cherries’ home game against Notts County on Saturday, April 6. The venue was chosen because Nicholas, who was 29, was a lifelong supporter of the team.