The uncle of Alesha MacPhail has tonight thanked the 25,000 people who have backed his campaign to see teen killers and rapists treated as adults in court.
Calum MacPhail told supporters he had met with Michael Russell MSP for Argyll and Bute who has agreed to help him take his case to Parliament.
The 27-year-old wants to see the law changed to allow criminals over the age of 16 to receive adult sentences for serious crimes such as murder, rape or abduction.
Alesha MacPhail uncle's petition for tougher sentencing hits 15k goal as Aaron Campbell appeals
He launched his campaign after Aaron Campbell, 16, was convicted and sentenced for raping and murdering six-year-old Alesha on the Isle of Bute in July last year.
Campbell, 16, was caged for a minimum of 27 years at the High Court in Glasgow , but received a lesser sentence due to his age.
An online petition on Change.org had racked up almost 18,000 names last night, while a previous petition which was shut down on site 38 Degrees gathered 9,000 signatures.
Twisted teen killer Aaron Campbell appeals sentence for rape and murder of Alesha MacPhail
Referring to his niece’s killer as a “monster”, Calum updated his supporters on Facebook the day after Alesha’s killer lodged a bid to appeal his 27 year minimum sentence.
He said: “He and others like him will continue to get less than what they deserve if we don’t change this.”
He added: “I would like to thank you all again for your continued support it’s a great deal of strength that help me through each day seeing people share the petition so thank you all.”
