A MOTHER whose son was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack has written to the Attorney General asking him to extend the sentences of the two brothers responsible, it has emerged.

A MOTHER whose son was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack has written to the Attorney General asking him to extend the sentences of the two brothers responsible, it has emerged.

Ann Oaks Odger's son, Westley, 27, was killed by Andrew Fredericks and his brother, Mark, after a simple argument at a cash machine in Colchester.

In the wake of the case, she says the current sentencing for knife crimes is not a big enough deterrent - so has appealed directly to the Attorney General to lengthen the Fredericks bothers' sentences.

Andrew Fredericks was called to dispute on the Greenstead estate by his brother and had never even met 27-year-old Mr Odger when he stabbed him in the neck.

Andrew Fredericks, 32, was convicted of murder and jailed for life at Chelmsford Crown Court and will serve 15 years before he is up for parole.

Mark Fredericks, 37, was handed a seven-year term after he was found guilty of manslaughter, but could be free in two years because of the time he spent in custody after the killing in September last year.

After they were convicted it emerged Andrew Fredericks had a string of convictions including two counts of carrying offensive weapons and previously had been found in possession of a samurai sword.

Mrs Oaks Odger, who lives in Colchester, said: “Everywhere I go, people have been saying to me 'keep the spotlight on knife crime'.

“If you go back to 1965 when the death penalty was abolished, when someone got a life sentence than it was life, meaning life, but now people can be out so quickly.”

She said in her opinion Andrew Fredericks, of Whybrews, Colchester, should have been given 20 to 25 years while Mark, of Avon Way in the town, should serve at least 15.

“Mark Fredericks will be walking the streets again in two years time and I just cannot fathom that.

“There is no real message to deter people from carrying knives, from committing crime, or from murder, by whatever form.

“It is a fact that Andrew Fredericks was caught with a Samurai sword in his car on the way in April - had he been sentenced properly then he would not have been out to kill my son like he did.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said she could not comment on individual cases but said the issue of knife crime was being taken seriously.

She said: “Tackling knife crime is a Government priority. That is why we have a coherent strategy with three strands: prevention, education and enforcement.

“Carrying a knife is illegal and will not be tolerated.”