Connor Brown’s family ‘struggle to accept they’ll never see him again’ two years after tragic death

The family of Connor Brown have said they “still find it hard to accept they’ll never see him again” two years after he was fatally stabbed.

Connor, 18, tragically passed away after he was attacked in an alleyway near Sunderland’s Gatsby’s pub on February 24, 2019, when he stepped in to defend others.

And now two years later, his family say they miss him every day.

His mum Tanya Brown said: “Although two years have passed we still find it hard to accept that we will never see him again. It’s something I think will take us a long time to come to terms with.

“We miss him so much and even the smallest of things you wouldn’t normally take notice of until they are not there anymore.

“We always like to think Connor is remembered for his smile, his laughter and his kind, caring nature with everyone he ever met.

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“We often have messages from strangers sharing their fondest memories of Connor with us and it makes us so proud of him.”

Despite their heartache, the family are determined to help others and prevent knife crime in the community by launching The Connor Brown Trust in memory of their beloved son.

They had hoped to launch the trust in March 2021 sometime around what would have been Connor’s 21st birthday, but Tanya has since said it has been pushed back again due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tanya said: “We have postponed the launch again due to the lockdown and the restrictions in place but we still hope to launch at some point in the near future when it is safe to do so.

“What we are hoping to achieve is changing the mindset of some of our younger generation to a positive one.

Connor Brown (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

“We hope to engage with those steering on the wrong path by encouraging and supporting them to participate in physical activities.

“And in the future, we hope to hold educational workshops within schools on the dangers and the impact knife crime has on everyone directly involved and the wider community.”

As well as prevention, the trust will also support victims of violent crimes and their families and raise awareness about the dangers of carrying or using a knife.

And although knife crime figures are down, Tanya said it may not give a true reflection in the midst of a global pandemic.

Tanya said it’s also a concern that when restrictions are eased those figures may go up again.

She said: “The national figures are down on knife crime which is brilliant, we have the utmost respect for Northumbria Police and the work they do.

“However, I don’t think these figures can give a true reflection considering we have been in the midst of a global pandemic with lockdowns and so many restrictions in place for the past 12 months.

“It is a cause for concern that when the restrictions are eased and the pubs, clubs etc can re-open that the statistics may increase.”

Tanya also called for courts to hand out stronger penalties so they can be used as a “deterrent” to knife crime.

She added: “I also believe the courts need to have stronger penalties when it comes to knife crime, whether that be carrying, threatening or using a knife at the moment the punishment or sentences are too lenient and isn’t a deterrent to some.”

In November 2020, the family faced yet more heartache by the news that the man who helped kill their son was released from prison.

While Leighton Barrass, then 20, was found guilty of murder, his accomplice, Ally Gordon, walked away with convictions for manslaughter and for possessing a bladed weapon.

Gordon was handed a three-and-a-half-year prison term at Newcastle Crown Court in December 2019 but thanks to time already served behind bars ahead of the trial, he has now been released on licence.

The Court of Appeal heard arguments that Gordon’s three-and-a-half-year prison sentence was unduly lenient, but appeal judges upheld the sentence.

You can keep up to date on the Connor Brown Trust through the Facebook page here.

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