Heartbroken mother of teenager stabbed to death demands blanket ban on carrying knives

Cameron Hamilton, 18, was killed in a fatal stabbing during a late-night fight in the centre of Bournemouth in August 2023

Cameron with his loving mother Sarah Hamilton, who has launched a petition in his name to ban the carrying of all knives (Supplied)

Surrounded by pictures of her second eldest child in her lounge, Cameron Hamilton’s mother Sarah stumbles over her words as she imagines how things could have turned out so differently had a teenager not brought a knife to Bournemouth town centre on a Friday night.

The 18-year-old she describes as a “lovely, good boy” died after being stabbed in the chest with a 5in (12.5cm) blade during a fight in August 2023.

The tragedy has been followed by a series of other high-profile teenage deaths caused by blades, including the killing of a 14-year-old schoolboy in Hainault in east London earlier this month.

In response, Ms Hamilton has channelled her grief on a newly launched petition calling for a blanket ban on the carrying of knives in public, and for criminal sentences to be increased.

As the law stands, it is illegal to carry most knives without a “good reason”, but there is an exception for possessing folding pocket knives with a cutting edge no longer than 3in (7.6cm).

The blade that killed Cameron was illegal to carry.

Cameron suffered a fatal stab wound to his chest during a fight in Bournemouth town centre (Dorset Police/PA Wire)

Cameron’s killer Thomas Betteridge, 18, was cleared of murder after claiming he acted in self-defence but was given a nine-year custodial sentence after being convicted of manslaughter and knife possession.

Lennie Hansen, 18, of Waterlooville, brought the knife that Betteridge used and was given a 13-month custodial sentence.

In her petition, Ms Hamilton wrote: “It is my hope that enough people can get behind this and we can collectively bring about a change to give justice to families like mine who have suffered an immeasurable loss, and to also try and prevent it happening to others.”

And speaking to The Independent, the 37-year-old digital creator said: “Cam was just a lovely, good boy who unfortunately got into a scrap.

“He would have been arrested for fighting and I would have grounded him for months. I would love to have been able to do it.”

Cameron died from a 5cm wound after the blade went through the left ventricle of his heart.

Flowers at the spot Cameron was killed in Bournemouth town centre in August 2023 (Supplied)

Ms Hamilton said: “He didn’t even make it to hospital. His liver had a wound as well, all from a 5cm cut. Five centimetres doesn’t sound like a lot but Cam was 6ft tall and slim. Your vital organs are a lot closer to the surface than you think.”

This month, nine months on from the death of her son, Ms Hamilton got a breaking news notification that brought the pain back; the death of Daniel Anjorin, attacked with a sword in Hainault.

Despite being 150 miles away, it felt close to home.

Latest figures released by the Home Office revealed knife crime in England and Wales increased by 7 per cent in 2023 from 2022. Of all recorded murders last year, 46 per cent involved a blade.

“Since Cam’s death I have seen breaking news of children being killed all over the country,” Ms Hamilton said.

“It brings back the day it happened to you, finding out the news – your mind just spirals.

”I try to empathise with other mums who are in my position now. It is heartbreaking but you will never know truly what it is like until it happens to you.”

She added: “There is no reason for anyone to have a weapon on them. People say they need it for protection but if you have it on you are more likely to use it.”

If Ms Hamilton’s petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be debated by MPs in the House of Commons.

Thomas Betteridge was jailed for nine years after being convicted of manslaughter (Dorset Police/PA Wire)

Asked what she would tell the prime minister if given the opportunity, she said: “How many more lives are we going to lose?

“Knife crime is on the rise and there are lots of other families all saying the same thing but nothing is happening. The government is in denial.

“When are we going to put real value on a human life? Everyone can talk about knife crime but the only people who can make a change is the government.”

After Hansen was convicted of knife possession in relation to her son’s death, Ms Hamilton also wants a new charge brought in for when a knife is used by someone else to kill.

She says: “Something good has to come out of such a tragedy for my family. Cam would be cheering me on. I know he gives me the strength.

“I miss everything about him. His sense of humour, he was incredibly funny, and his laugh. We would send each other memes all the time. You don’t realise you miss the little things the most.

“He was so kind and great for his siblings. It would be great to get change before his younger brother is ready to go out.”