A MUM whose teenage son was stabbed to death in a Grimsby street is sharing her story in the hope she can stop another young person being stabbed to death.
Joanne Tilling, 45, has painful memories of the day she discovered her youngest son, 17-year-old Ben, had been stabbed and killed – and she is sharing those memories with local schoolchildren.
She hopes using her story as part of the Youth Offending Service's Knife Crime Prevention Programme, will stop youngsters carrying blades – and lives needlessly being taken.
In an exclusive interview, she told the Grimsby Telegraph: "Every single day is still a struggle. There isn't a day goes by that Ben isn't spoken about. We feel like we are never going to be happy again.
"There are a lot of parents out there who send their kids out on a Friday night, thinking their kid is going to be all right, but then, all of a sudden, their lives could change forever.
"My message to children is 'Just don't pick up that knife'. You are not only going to destroy your own life, but it devastates everyone who knew the victim – their mum, dad, brothers and sisters.
"It hurts, but if just one child changes their mind about carrying a knife then we have succeeded."
Ben was "one of the Friday night boys" who would hang about on street corners with mates when Liam McCalmon, then 20, stabbed him multiple times near an alleyway in Lord Street, five years ago.
It was just 13 days before his 18th birthday and he was turning his life around after getting his dream job at sea.
Jo's story has already been told to more than 4,000 students in schools across the area, in a programme created and led by neighbourhood beat officer PC Steve Jones, of Humberside Police.
Jo continued: "What Steve does is fantastic. He is the only one in this area who is doing anything. He tries to educate the kids and, if he needs my support to do that, although it hurts, I will.
"If it stops just one child coming out on a Friday night with a knife then it is worth it."
The latest talk was at John Whitgift Academy, where she spoke to 80 Year 11 students.
Assistant principal Andy Carrington said: "The students were really responsive to the talk. It made them realise the dangers of carrying a knife or being around someone who does. Hearing Jo's story made them realise the importance of the message."
Turn to pages 4 and 5 to read Jo's story and to find out more about the YOS Knife Crime Prevention Programme.
ON THE WEB: Visit www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk to watch Ben Tilling: A Mother's Story.
