Punish parents of children who kill, says MP

Bhim Kohli died in hosptial after being attacked at a park

Parents of children who commit serious crimes should also face punishment, an MP has said.

Peter Bedford, the Conservative member for Mid Leicestershire, has submitted an amendment to the Sentencing Bill following the death of 80-year-old Bhim Kohli, who was fatally attacked at a park in Leicestershire in 2024.

A 15-year-old boy was sentenced to seven years in custody for his manslaughter but cannot be named due to his age.

The amendment was debated in Parliament on Wednesday but was rejected by MPs.

Ahead of the debate, Bedford said: "When I first learnt of [Mr Kohli's] death, I have been doing all I can in my capacity as the local MP to fight for proper justice."

He described the victim as a "much-loved and well respected man in the community", adding: "What happened to him, was nothing short of abhorrent".

Mr Kohli was found injured and in pain at Franklin Park by members of his family

A six-week trial at Leicester Crown Court heard Mr Kohli was subjected to a "seven-and-a-half minute period of continuing aggression" in the fatal assault at Franklin Park in Braunstone Town.

The boy racially abused Mr Kohli, attacked him and slapped him in the face with a slider shoe, while his friend laughed as she filmed it on her phone.

The attack left Mr Kohli with three broken ribs and other fractures, but the court heard the fatal injury was to his spinal cord, caused by a spine fracture.

Mr Kohli's killer was convicted of manslaughter alongside a 13-year-old girl, who also cannot be named.

The court heard she encouraged the attack by filming parts of it while laughing, with video clips showing the balaclava-clad boy hitting Mr Kohli with a shoe.

The girl took a photograph of Mr Kohli on her phone the week before, but denied she used this to "target" him, the trial heard.

She was given a youth rehabilitation order of three years and made subject to a six-month curfew

A move to extend the boy's sentence was subsequently turned down.

Mr Kohli's daughter Susan has also said the guidelines need to change

Bedford says he has been campaigning alongside Mr Kohli's daughter to ensure "parents are better held responsible for the criminal actions of their children".

He asked the secretary of state to assess whether parenting and financial orders could be given to parents of young offenders.

"As a parent it is your job to ensure your children grow up to be law-abiding functioning members of society, and part of that means ensuring they don't commit crimes," Bedford said.

"That's why we should start holding parents to account more for the criminal actions of their children.

"We must also remove the right to anonymity for people under the age of 18 who commit serious crimes.

"If you cause extreme harm, then you should face the consequences."