A GRESFORD man told pupils how his brother was brutally stabbed to death in the hope of turning them away from knife crime.
Craig Maddocks was murdered in a knife attack at the Cambrian Vaults pub, Wrexham, in June 2013. He was 34.
The Leader reported in February of this year how his brother Danny Maddocks, 36, was hoping to launch an anti-knife crime campaign to make young people think twice about carrying or using the weapons.
Danny Maddocks pictured holding a photo of himself and his brother Craig
Mr Maddocks has now teamed up with North Wales Police and Wrexham Youth Justice Service to deliver such a scheme, the first sessions of which took place at Darland High School in Rossett.
He joined PC Tom Milne of North Wales Police and Guy Vine of the Youth Justice Service in talking to year ten pupils about the risks associated with knives and the impact they can have both on the person carrying them and the victims.
Mr Maddocks said: “Darland has been the first school for this project and it has been very good.
Year 10 pupils with, from left Danny Maddocks, Wrexham Mayor Rob Walsh, PC Tom Milne, head teacher Joanne Lee and Guy Vine
“The pupils all listened and we’ve had positive feedback from the teachers.
“It is emotional speaking about Craig, I feel myself welling up - even though it’s been six years, it’s still there.
“But by coming here and saying it to people, I feel I can ‘speak it out’ and get it off my chest.
Year 10 pupils learned about the risks associated with knives
“I am here to show them what knife crime can do to a family and they can see my fear when I speak about it.
“The sooner people understand it, the better.
“It might not be a big issue in Wrexham, but it is elsewhere.
“When I see stories in the news about people being stabbed, it brings it all back.
From left: PC Tom Milne, Guy Vine and Danny Maddocks speak to the class
“I don’t want to see more stories like that, and I don’t want anyone else having to go through what me and my family went through.”
Joanne Lee, head teacher, said: “Although we don’t have a huge number of knife crimes in Wrexham, our students are going out into the world and this is about making sure they are well informed.
“They have been very mature in their approach and very engaged with the sessions.”
Cllr Rob Walsh, mayor of Wrexham, attended to see the session himself and said he was very impressed.
From left: Guy Vine, PC Tom Milne and Danny Maddocks
He told the Leader: “It’s been a great session and it’s very important.
“The way the team here has approached it is the right one because they look at the bigger picture.”
Guy Vine, of Wrexham Youth Justice Service, said the response from the school had been fantastic.
He said: “It’s been amazing, we could not have asked for more.”
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