Father's 'life to mean life' call

Kevin Johnson was fatally stabbed in the chest

The father of a man stabbed to death by three youths is taking his petition for life sentences to mean life to Downing Street.

Kevin Johnson, 22, was stabbed outside his Sunderland home last May. His killers were sentenced to minimum terms ranging from 13 to 17 years.

His father John Johnson set up his Enough his Enough campaign and collected more than 35,000 signatures.

Hundreds of other relatives of victims will join him to hand the petition in.

Mr Johnson, 57, said: "We're talking about 500 to 600 people. They're coming from all over the place.

"It's something that needs doing and people feel so strongly about it."

'Petty prison terms'

Kevin Johnson, a father-of-one, died after suffering a stab wound to his chest when he challenged three rowdy teenagers outside his home in the early hours of 19 May, 2007.

Dean Curtis, 19, Tony Hawkes, 17, and Jordan Towers, 16, were all jailed for life for the murder, with minimum sentences ranging from 13 to 17 years.

Following the court case John Johnson began his campaign.

Among those travelling to Downing Street on Wednesday is Lynn Hood, whose 18-year-old daughter, Rebecca, was also a murder victim.

Mrs Hood said: "We're hoping Gordon Brown will sit up and listen that people have had enough of the petty prison terms they are giving out.

"Fifteen or 20 years is pathetic."

Michael Taylor, 30, is serving a minimum of 15 years in jail for Rebecca's murder.