Petition launched against Ayrshire teen's killer being allowed home

Thousands are backing a petition against a killer being released from prison back into Ayrshire.

John Wilson murdered his ex-girlfriend, Michelle Stewart, in Drongan in 2008.

He travelled by bus from his home in Prestwick to Drongan where he stabbed the 17 year-old ten times out in the street.

He was handed a life sentence for the murder, 12 years of which to be spent behind bars.

Now 30 years-old, Wilson has served only nine years of his jail term and will soon be allowed unsupervised leave back home.

But Michelle's family are campaigning against that.

Her dad, Kenny Stewart says, "The last ten years without Michelle has been a total nightmare. You just need to think of your own nearest and dearest being murdered. That is the feeling that we have all the time, every day.

"It took ages for me to accept that I would never see Michelle again. I think about her constantly.

"Twelve years isn't a life sentence. We got the life sentence. Michelle got the life sentence.

"Maybe years ago, offenders could leave prison and nobody would know what they have done. But because of social media, that doesn't happen anymore.

"He's in for a big shock if he comes back to Ayshire. Everyone here knows who he is and what he did.

"The parole board have said he's allowed out to see his family. But what about Michelle and her family? Whose side are they on?

"That is not justice and he should never be released back in Ayrshire as far as I'm concerned."

Kenny and other members of Michelle's family are set to meet with the Justice Secretary in Ayr on the 3rd of August over their concerns about sentencing and parole.

The petition which will be handed to the Scottish Parole Board and the Justice Secretary has so far gathered thousands of signatures and has been shared hundreds of times on social media.

You can read more and sign the petition here.