Knife crime lessons after head teacher's son killed

Children at Newlands Junior School in Mansfield are learning about the dangers of knife crime

Children have started learning about the tragic impact of knife crime after a head teacher's son was stabbed to death.

Danny Castledine was 22 when he was stabbed by a Belgian drug addict in an unprovoked attack in Amsterdam on 1 June 2022.

Alison Castledine, who runs Newlands Junior School in Mansfield, said her family's life has never been the same since.

She said she wants knife crime education in schools to become mandatory.

Alison Castledine said she hopes the children learn from what her family has been through

Mr Castledine, who was a student himself, was on a night out when he was stabbed 30 times.

The killer, referred to as Nongo B, was given a 14-year prison sentence after being convicted of manslaughter.

The Court of Amsterdam, in a written judgement, said there was "no obvious motive" for the killing.

Ms Castledine said her son was "such a happy-go-lucky boy" and had never been involved in any incidents before he was attacked, months before he was due to start his final year of university.

"For them to see a real person that has been impacted by this is far better than telling them any statistic," she said.

"It's the emotion that gets through to the children."

Chloe Castledine wrote the workshop guide for the children

Chloe Castledine, Mr Castledine's sister, created an educational package for the workshop, which is also being used in other educational establishments.

She said she hopes it helps keep other families safe in future.

"If this programme of work had been in the school of Danny's killer, how many people would have been saved?" she said.

"If I could just save one sister from feeling the way that I do, that would be enough."

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