Teesside anti-knife campaigner calls for better education for young people after teacher stabbed in Leeds

Theresa Cave believes children need to learn about harsh consequences of carrying a weapon after teacher was stabbed to death in Leeds

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Corpus Christi Catholic College in Osmondthorpe

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A prominent Teesside anti-knife campaigner has called for better education for young people after a teacher was stabbed to death by a pupil at a Leeds school.

Theresa Cave, of Redcar, has campaigned tirelessly against knife crime since her son Chris was stabbed and died in 2003, aged only 17.

Theresa believes that children need to learn about the harsh consequences of carrying a weapon and thinks that pupils should be searched for knives and other weapons in schools across the country.

She said: “It is just so heartbreaking. It is horrible to say it, but it is proof that we need to teach children about the harsh realities of knife crime. Schools are afraid of getting the ‘knife crime problem’ tag and do not engage with the issue.”

A 15-year-old student was arrested after a female teacher was stabbed to death at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Osmondthorpe, in the east of Leeds, yesterday.

Theresa is involved with the Point7 campaign, a presentation which shows youngsters the effects of knife crime on victims, perpetrators and their families.

“The only place I have given the presentation locally is at Redcar and Cleveland College.

“It is hard-hitting and can be gruesome but I get the letters from teenagers that say ‘I put the knife down because I saw this’. I am always available to give the presentation, completely for free. It breaks my heart when something like this happens and it could have been prevented.”