A MOTHER whose son was stabbed to death has marked the 15th anniversary of his murder with a fresh warning against knife and gang crime.

Chris Cave was stabbed to death in Redcar in June 2003, and since then, his mother, Theresa, has fought tirelessly alongside her other son Tom to deter young people from carrying a knife or a gun or committing violent crime.

Tom is about to celebrate his 18th birthday in two weeks, and Mrs Cave said it is "heart-breaking" that Chris is not here to buy him his first pint.

In November 2003, Sean Matson was jailed for life for murdering the 17-year-old at his best friend's home.

A drunken Matson went to the flat and demanded to be allowed into the property so that he could take his own drugs. He later returned with a knife and stabbed Chris.

Paying tribute to her son exactly a decade-and-a-half after he was killed, Mrs Cave said: “They say time is a great healer, but it has been 15 of the longest, hardest, saddest, most painful and soul destroying years of out lives.

“We have done another year of building up Chris’ legacy and his love and memory is imprinted on so many young people’s hearts who have walked away from violent crime in his name."

Mrs Cave admits she is still haunted by the memories of 15 years ago.

“Yesterday for me is exactly the same as it was 15 years ago – last night I lived through those hours all over again as I do ever year.

"Fifteen years ago I was in the hospital and shown into a room were a large white bag was on a table, and I unzipped the bag to find my little lad all curled up inside.

"I will never get this out of my mind – it stays as clear as the day and it will never ever leave me.

"I wake up to this in the morning and I go to sleep with it at night and this is how it will always be."

But she has one simple message for those still carrying knives on the streets.

“Please stop the violence. Put down the knife. Put down the gun. Walk away from gangs. See the damage that you are doing to others.

"My son was killed by a coward but he died the man."

Mrs Cave's appeal comes following a number of gun, knife or gang related crimes in London in recent months, with more than 50 violence-related deaths in the capital this year alone.

"I am mortified – we have been screaming and warning the government for years.

"It is bitter sweet to have to turn round to them and say we told you this would happen.

"If only they had given us the funding and the way forward to help these kids would have been easier- it worked for a while, kids were walking away but it seems to have risen so fast in London that we need a miracle now."

Mrs Cave also paid tribute to her surviving son Tom, ahead of his birthday celebrations.

“He has helped so many people over the years, and he has told so many about how it feels to lose his only sibling.

“They write letters to him and thank him and tell him they have walked away from knife crime."

Following Chris' death, Mrs Cave set up The Chris Cave Foundation, which aims to raise money for projects around the country in efforts to help ‘kill violence on the streets’ and offers support, comfort and advice to those who have lost a loved one.

The charity has spoken to thousands of children and helped hundreds of families who have suffered as a result of knife or gun violence.

Mrs Cave's campaigning has seen her support knife amnesties which have been organised by the police - saying “a knife off the street is a potential life saved”.

In 2014, she shaved her hair off and took a dip in the chilly North Sea to raise money to help pay for a holiday home for families affected by murder or violence.

Sharon Henderson, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Nikki Allan, and Angie McGhee, whose granddaughter Amy was five when she died in an arson attack in Scotswood, Newcastle, came down to Redcar to support Theresa as she had her hair shaved.