The mother of a teenager who was stabbed to death has said the sentence given to one of his killers was "too lenient" after he was caught carrying a knife.

Ally Gordon, who was jailed for his involvement in the tragic murder of 18-year-old Connor Brown in Sunderland five years ago, was arrested by police in Scotland.

Gordon, who served three-and-a-half years for manslaughter, was spotted with the blade by a member of the public in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire.

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Appearing in Airdrie Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Gordon admitted to carrying the weapon and was sentenced to 21 months in jail.

The court was told the offence, on November 27, 2022, was at a time when Gordon, was homeless and taking Valium as well as drinking alcohol.

It was said he had no recollection of having the lock knife that was found in the waistband of his trousers.

The new sentence is to run alongside the 40-month term he was given in November 2023 for allowing Anthony Keating, later convicted of Blaine Hammond's murder, to hide at his home in Sunderland while he was on the run from police in December 2021.

The Northern Echo: Connor Brown Connor Brown (Image: Contributor)Leighton Barrass was jailed for life for Connor’s murder, but the sentence given to Gordon, now 24, means he has been able to reoffend.

Connor’s mum Tanya said she was angry she had not been told about new case and found it "infuriating" that he will serve no extra prison time.

She added: "It also proves his sentence was too lenient in the first place.

“His time spent in prison for his part in Connor’s death meant nothing and he learnt nothing.”

Tanya set up the Connor Brown Trust in memory of her son and is part of the North East Knife Crime Taskforce, which was formed by The Northern Echo as part of an ongoing campaign to address the root causes of the problem.

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The Northern Echo: Tanya Brown Tanya Brown (Image: Sarah Caldecott)She added: “Sentencing really needs to be looked at, more so for offences of knife crime.

“Gordon has never shown any remorse for his part in Connor’s death and he simply doesn't care.

“At least he is in prison now so he can't hurt anyone else.”