The uncle of murdred Alesha MacPhail has called for killer Aaron Campbell to be kept in an adult jail - in order to protect juvenile inmates.
The 16-year-old is expected to serve four years of his life sentence at Polmont young offenders' institution in Scotland before being transferred to an adult prison.
Alesha's uncle Calum MacPhail is now campaigning for a change of law so serious young offenders receive adult sentences.
His petition calling for such change has amassed 20,000 signatures in two weeks.
He says Campbell - who abducted, raped and killed six-year-old Alesha on the Isle of Bute last summer - should not be allowed near other youngsters, according to Daily Record .
Alesha MacPhail's mum will 'stand there and laugh' if killer's appeal backfires
"He is around people who are children - people of 14 and 15 years old. What has he been saying to them? Has he been trying to influence them?" he said.
As Campbell filed an appeal against his 27-year minimum last week, there was a growing support seen among the public.
Calum said: "Now he is appealing, it puts it into perspective even further. He’s already not been given a full sentence and now he is appealing to have a lesser sentence.
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"If he had got the full maximum adult sentence, he would have been aged 51 before being eligible for parole.
"At the minute, he will be 43 - that's not even half the life of an average human nowadays."
Calum met Argyll and Bute MSP Michael Russell on Friday, April 5, to seek support for the petition in Holyrood.
The Scottish government said of the petition last week: "Sentencing within the overall legal framework is a matter for the judiciary, which is independent of ministers."
Calum now plans to take the case to Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf.
