Stephen Armstrong's family hand 28,000-name petition to justice chief

Apr 13 2008 By Grace Macaskill

THE family of jailed dad Stephen Armstrong have handed a 28,000-strong petition demanding his release to Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill.

In an unprecedented move MacAskill promised a debate on the case AND vowed to stamp out the yob culture Stephen fell victim to.

Stephen was jailed for four years after standing up to a knife-wielding thug terrorising his family and neighbours in their quiet cul-de-sac.

While the dad-of-eight accepts he deserves punishment, the severity of the sentence stunned the nation and triggered a massive petition.

Last week Dorothy and kids Stephen, 17, Sean, 15, Christopher, 14, Ryan, 12, Ciaran, 11, eight-year-old Chloe and four-year-old twins Emma and Connor delivered it to Holyrood.

MacAskill promised to hand it to the Parliament's petitions committee, which has the power to order an inquiry into the case.

He told the Sunday Mail: "We are committed to allowing all of our communities to feel safe.

"People have to start accepting responsibility - the people of Scotland will not accept excuses for what is simply loutish bad behaviour."

Stephen, 47, was jailed for three years and eight months after knocking down a 22-year-old attacker who earlier threatened him with a knife and was trying to smash his windscreen with a baton.

He was part of a gang of vandals causing havoc on Waukglen Gardens in South Park Village, Glasgow.

Residents had complained to police about the mob 39 times in four months before Stephen finally snapped.

His legal team are appealing the length of sentence.

Speaking from Barlinnie Prison, Stephen told how moved he was by the growing swell of public support after an incredible 28,883 Scots signed the petition.

He said: "I'm delighted the Minister has accepted the petition. Now all I can do is wait for the appeals process to run its course.

"I'm really moved I have the support of so many Sunday Mail readers. It's of great comfort to me in jail."

He misses his children so much he has asked wife Dot to keep a video diary of them until he is freed.

Stephen said: "I miss Dot and the kids every minute of every day.

"I've asked Dot to video them every day so I can watch the tapes when I eventually get out. I don't want to miss a single bit of their lives. They get bigger every time I see them."

Stephen added: "What I did was wrong but the punishment doesn't fit the crime."

Dorothy, 39, whose sister Ann Randall also attended the Parliament, is struggling to bring up the children without her husband.

She said: "Life just hasn't been the same since Stephen was locked up.

"They miss him somuch it's heartbreaking. Every time the phone rings they rush to get it and when Stephen's time runs out they're in tears.

"We've had a few family visits at Barlinnie but the children are so upset when they have to leave it's just awful.

"I was nervous about meeting Mr MacAskill but he put me at ease.

"I'm just so glad he accepted our petition personally. He said it was time to put an end to yob culture and that's the biggest thing he can promise."

Click here to add your name to the petition