PM's letter to dead girl's family

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The Prime Minister has told the family of a teenager who died after a gang attack he was "shocked" those involved were freed within a year of her death.

Aimee Wellock, 15, died from a heart condition after the attack near her home in Bradford last year.

Three teenagers were released earlier after their manslaughter convictions were reduced to affray on appeal.

In a letter to Aimee's parents, Tony Blair said the case would help inform a review of the criminal justice system.

After the hearing at the Court of Appeal in January, Claire Carey, 19, of Allerton Park, Bradford, and two other girls aged 15 and 17, were given reduced sentences and have now been released.

Personally, I am shocked that a year after Aimee's death, they can be free from any restriction at all Prime Minister Tony Blair

Aimee's father Alan Wellock and his wife Jackie have been campaigning for a change in the law to deal with similar cases.

They wrote to both Mr Blair and home secretary John Reid. Mr Blair sent the Wellocks a four-page reply.

He added a hand-written "PS" which said: "Personally, I am shocked that a year after Aimee's death, they can be free from any restriction at all.

"In the review currently going on, in respect of the criminal justice system, I will ensure your letter is covered.

"We are considering legislation in the next Queen's Speech."

Awaiting response

Mr Wellock said he was pleased the Prime Minister was showing sympathy for his family but wanted concrete steps from the government.

He said he was still waiting for a response from Home Secretary John Reid.

"We are grateful for Tony Blair's sympathy and that's what you would expect from the Prime Minister but it's the Home Secretary we expect to say what they are going to do," he said.

Mr Blair's letter said the family were not contacted about the girls' release because they had not joined the police's victim contact scheme. But Mr Wellock said he had never received any such invitation.

He said that with the exception of West Yorkshire Police, no organisation had contacted him about the case.