The heartbroken mum of a young man who was stabbed to death by a teen is calling for parents to be held accountable if their child commits a knife crime.
Nicola Wardle lost her son Dylan Keelan after he was attacked with a knife on February 4 in Cheetham Hill Road, Dukinfield.
The 20-year-old is one of four young victims to be fatally stabbed in Greater Manchester since the beginning of the year, Manchester Evening News reports.
Last Friday, Abdilkarm Ahmed was knifed to death aged 18 in Bury.
Previous to this, 16-year-old Kennie Carter died in Stretford on January 22 and Alan Szelugowski, 17, was stabbed to death on January 30 in Salford.
Wiping away tears as she spoke at a press conference in GMP Force Headquarters on Tuesday, Nicola said: "My son, Dylan, was a lovely, kind and respectful boy who always had a cheeky smile on his face. He loved his family and his close friends and we all loved him.
"Dylan and his mates wanted to go on a lads holiday to celebrate their 21sts. I was looking forward to watching him grow up - get married and have kids.
"I am broken and distraught. But Dylan always put me first so I'm putting him first. In his words - 'Always find a way to turn a negative into a positive'.
"If this saves one life, he would want it. So, today, I am appealing to mums, dads, aunties, uncles, grandparents, teachers - anyone who cares about a kid or the safety of the streets which they walk.
"Since Dylan died, I've received so much support but, this afternoon, I ask you to help me ensure my son's death is not in vain.
"If you know or suspect your kid or any kid you care about is carrying a weapon, please do something before it's too late.
"Have a conversation with them; help them surrender it; or report it. Doing something might seem hard but it could save a family heartbreak like mine.
"Look at my life, look at what could happen - everything changes overnight."
Also speaking at the conference was GMP Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson, portfolio holder for serious crime and public protection.
She said: "I would like to start by sending my condolences to the loved ones of the four young men who have been fatally stabbed in our region this year, and others affected by violent crime.
She said: "I would like to start by sending my condolences to the loved ones of the four young men who have been fatally stabbed in our region this year, and others affected by violent crime.
"I echo Nicola's sentiments entirely and can assure parents, carers and anyone else who is concerned that fighting, preventing and reducing the use of weapons is one of GMP's highest priorities and that, across the force, police officers and staff are proactively working to keep people safe in a number of ways, such as: working with partner agencies and communities; continuing our Forever Knife Amnesty; and stop searching.
"These examples should go some way to build public trust and confidence that GMP will not tolerate the threat, harm and risk weapons pose to our communities and officers are working hard to remove them from our streets whilst ensuring those responsible for carrying and/ or using them face justice."
During the press conference, Nicola said that if someone under the age of 18 commits knife crime, the responsibility should 'fall on the parents'.
She said: "I'd like to do a petition and I think if they're under 18, it should fall on the parents because maybe then they'd be more wary of their children. Something needs to be done. If you don’t search your kids, this is the outcome.
"It's not hard is it? If it's your child you should know what they're doing and where they're going. I know you can't watch them 24/7 but you know what kind of person they are.
"Some parents are scared of their children but phone the police, get them in trouble, they've got to learn. If you take a knife out this is the outcome. I've got ashes now instead of my son."
Nicola continued: "There seems to be a lot of youngsters and I've heard that they take knives in school. It should fall on the parent because it might not stop it but it may calm it or reduce it.
"It's just a waste. I'll never get my son back. I think it's just an image thing for a lot of them until they're in a situation. They need to check their kids more, it starts at home I think."
A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reason, has been charged with murder and threatening a person with a blade/ sharply pointed article in a public place.
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