The grieving mother of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose, who was fatally stabbed at his Sheffield school earlier this year, has vowed to take a stand against knife crime in a powerful interview with 5 News. Caz Willgoose, appearing alongside her family in the emotional sit-down with presenter Dan Walker, said: “I’ve just got to fight for him, got to fight for them kids. Knife crime has got to change. I’m happy to go into schools and tell them the impact not just on us, on the people that were there.
“I think we don’t even really realise how serious it is with how many kids carrying weapons into schools, which is why I want a knife arch.” She added: “It’s horrific, it’s just so sad. I just don’t want anybody else to go through this.” Harvey was stabbed twice in the chest at All Saints Catholic High School in February. Just days before his death, he had sent a chilling message to his dad, Mark, that now haunts the family.
“This is why I don’t go to school, dad, because people have knives.” Mark revealed he still has the message on his phone.
The school had reportedly shut down temporarily in the days leading up to the attack, after a weapon was discovered on the premises.
Although Harvey never openly said he was being bullied, his family believe he feared the weapon found was intended for him.
Mark said he still visits Harvey’s bedroom, which remains untouched since the teenager’s death.
“I go in there because I just feel close to him… I just spend time. Just move things about. I just pick clothes up, put them back down, just stare out at window and then just go.”
But for Caz, entering Harvey’s room is still too painful. “His bed is exactly the same as it were when he left. His pyjamas. Well, what he wears at night on the floor. His plate.
“He made himself a sausage sandwich at night. That’s still there. His glass of cordial is still there. I can’t do that yet.”
Harvey’s sister Sophie paid tribute to her “cheeky” younger brother, saying: “He was just so lovely. The most caring, kind, funny, cheeky little brother you could ask for. Even if he was annoying, you couldn’t be mad at him for too long because he just got this charm about him.”
His funeral was attended by hundreds of people at Sheffield Cathedral with the service also shown on a big screen outside.
The Reverend Canon Abigail Thompson said the entire city would grieve for Harvey, and added: “Sheffield isn’t the kind of place where this happens.”
Earlier this month his parents, Mark and Caroline, led an anti-knife crime march from Sheffield’s Town Hall to Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane football ground.
About 1,000 people took part, with supporters carrying a large banner saying Lives Not Knives.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder.
The family’s heartbreaking interview airs Monday (April 14) on 5 News at 5pm.