Mum of murdered Poppy Devey Waterhouse backs campaign to change the law over prison sentences

Ellie Gould, 17, and Poppy Devey Waterhouse, 24, were both tragically stabbed by former partners.

Both deaths involved kitchen knives which were found at the murder scene - which the victim's mothers think could have reduced the jail terms.

Current guidelines state if the killer brings a weapon to the scene they should be jailed for longer.

Carole Gould and Julie Devey are now campaigning for longer sentences for using weapons already at the crime scene.

Julie told the BBC: "How is her murderer to be seen as less violent, less dangerous, as somebody who stabbed somebody once or twice that they don't know, in the park?"

Carole added: "These cases...are happening all the time, and yet the government is simply not interested in changing sentencing so the punishment fits the crime."

Poppy, originally from Frome, Somerset, was murdered by her former boyfriend Joe Atkinson in 2018.

She was killed in their shared flat in Saxton Flats, Richmond Hill - three days before she was due to move out.

Atkinson, 25, was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years and 310 days behind bars.

Ellie was murdered at her home in Calne, Wiltshire, in May last year by Thomas Griffiths after she broke off their relationship.

The killer, now 18, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years after stabbing his ex-girlfriend 13 times.

Current guidelines state that if a weapon is taken to the murder scene, the starting point for a sentence is 25 years - but for other offences it is 15 years.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: "All murder rightly carries a life sentence and it is for judges to decide the minimum prison term."