Mum of Sophie Lancaster dies in hospital after years of campaigning

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The mum of a Sophie Lancaster, who was brutally kicked to death in a park because she was dressed as a goth, has died after years of campaigning against hate crime.

Sylvia Lancaster, who received an OBE in 2014 for her campaign work, had worked with young offenders before her daughter Sophie was killed.

Sophie was murdered and her boyfriend was hospitalised in a savage attack by a "feral" gang of teenagers in Lancashire back in 2007.

The couple were beaten so badly that when paramedics arrived they could not tell if they were male or female.

The 20-year-old died 13 days after the attack, instigated by Ryan Herbert, who was 16 years old at the time of the tragic death.

Sylvia had dedicated her life to campaigning for The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, but a post on their website revealed Sylvia had sadly passed away.

The statement read: "This is the hardest statement to write. It is with great shock and disbelief that we announce that Sylvia Lancaster has passed away.

"She died early this morning in Blackburn hospital. She had suffered from ill health for the last couple of years, but her death was sudden and unexpected. Sylvia had such a powerful life force; we cannot imagine a world without her in it.

"Following Sophie’s brutal murder, Sylvia put her energy into championing people from alternative subcultures and creating educational programmes to tackle prejudice and intolerance."

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The statement added: "Sylvia was formidable. She challenged authority and fought for what she believed in.

"Her legacy is that Sophie will never be forgotten, and her daughter’s name will always represent her mission – to Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere."

Sophie's killer, Herbert, now 30, is set to be released from prison after a parole board heard he had made "significant changes to his life".

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Just last month Sylvia had blasted the decision, claiming she had still not been given an explanation as to why her daughter's killer was allowed to walk free, The Sun reported.

At the time of the announcement, Sylvia said: "People will say he’s done his time. That’s all right for him and his family. What about me and mine? When do we finish doing our time?"

• Crime
• Teenagers
• Family

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