25,000 Sign Petition To Set Armstrong Free

Mar 9 2008 By Grace Macaskill

DOROTHY Armstrong and children Emma and Connor stand proudly with proof the public want hero dad Stephen freed.

Each of these boxes contains names from a 25,000-strong petition for the dad of eight who stood his ground against hooligans terrorising his neighbourhood.

Stephen was jailed for three years and eight months for running over a 23-year-old who threatened him with a knife and smashed up his car.

He snapped after a gang caused havoc on his street with graffiti, loud music and throwing stones through windows.

Stephen, 47, ran over the man last April as he tried to smash the windscreen of his family van with a baton.

His family set up an online petition to free him and, with help from Sunday Mail readers, the response has been phenomenal.

Wife Dorothy said: "I'm so touched by the support.

"Communities are being torn apart by gangs and all Stephen did was protect his family.

"We don't think he should be in jail and, by the size of the petition, nobody else does.

"He's not saying he doesn't deserve punishment but not prison. He misses his children and wants to come home."

The petition has signatures from all over Europe, Australia and Canada, as well as Scotland.

Stephen is in Barlinnie, where his alleged victim is also being held on remand over a separate incident.

They were put in adjoining cells in the holding area as they waited to give evidence.

Stephen came face to face with the man he attacked in self-defence.

Dorothy said: "Stephen had no idea this man was in jail, let alone the same one. He was shouting and bawling at Stephen, saying he'd harm him.

"Stephen called me and I knew something was wrong immediately. His voice was shaky.

"Stephen is so scared of him."

The yob was part of a gang terrorising neighbours on Stephen's quiet cul-de-sac in the south of Glasgow.

Now Dorothy, who suffers from arthritis, is left to bring up their eight children, Stephen Jnr, 17, Sean, 15, Christopher, 14, Ryan, 12, Ciaran, 11, Chloe, eight, and four-year-old twins Emma and Connor.

The 23-year-old appeared in court yesterday on charges of possessing a knife, breach of the peace, challenging others to fight, and reckless damage by smashing the windows of Stephen's van.

The sheriff remanded him over breach of the peace and assault in a separate incident.

The family are to send the petition to Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill.

To sign the petition, log on to www.sundaymail.co.uk