Mum of teen murdered by Scotland's youngest female killer 'glad' she doesn't have more kids

The mother of a teenager murdered by Scotland’s youngest female killer says she is "glad" she doesn't have any more children due to the rising epidemic of youth gang violence.

Conner Cowper was just 18 when he was stabbed to death in a vicious, unprovoked attack by 17-year-old Jolene Doherty at a house party in Holytown, North Lanarkshire, in 2018. Doherty was jailed for life for the crime.

Conner’s mother, Linda Fraser, has previously spoken out about knife crime and the increase in violence among young people. And now, talking to STV as part of a special programme exploring the rise in youth gang violence, she said: “There’s that much crime happening now.

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"They’re getting younger – it’s worrying. To be honest with you, I’m glad that I’ve not got any more kids. I’d not even let them out to play, never mind grow up.”

Conner’s grandmother, Janet Fraser, added that it’s a “constant worry” when her two other teenage grandsons go out.

When asked if she feels anything has changed in Scotland since Conner’s murder, Linda said: “No. It looks as if it’s getting worse. When we were younger, that wouldn’t even cross your head at certain ages. That’s the scary thing. 13 year olds… you’re still a wean [child].”

Conner was mercilessly knifed in the neck in April 2018 by Doherty - who had previous for carrying blades and was well known to the authorities. The fiend, from Wishaw, was pregnant and high on cocaine and booze when she unleashed the attack on Conner, whom she barely knew, and was found laughing by police nearby.

She was sentenced to at least 16 years in custody for the “deliberate, brutal, unprovoked and entirely murderous” attack. Doherty was granted anonymity by law throughout her trial at the High Court in Glasgow but was unmasked on her 18th birthday, when she was also identified as a schoolgirl filmed bullying a vulnerable pupil outside a school in Wishaw in 2013.

Heartbroken Linda and Janet previously gave their backing to the Daily Record’s Our Kids ... Our Future campaign last year pleading with the with the Government to protect more young people from a terrifying surge in violence.

Since February 2023, the Record has been lobbying the Scottish Government in response to a series of shocking attacks involving children which we have reported on across Scotland.

Linda, from Airdrie, penned a harrowing letter to Scotland’s Justice Secretary over the brutality continuing to plague communities across Scotland, saying she felt like “nothing has changed” since losing her only child and said the streets have become a “war zone” for many young people.

The grieving family has spoken out as the number of crimes involving the use of weapons in Scotland increased by 20 per cent% from September 2019 to September 2023, with factors such as social media, the pandemic, austerity, and the cost-of-living crisis being blamed for the rise.

Linda and Janet Fraser will feature on Scotland Tonight: Growing Up With Gangs, which includes interviews with a range of young people, former gang members, and Justice Secretary, Angela Constance MSP.

Scotland Tonight: Growing Up With Gangs airs at 8.30pm on Thursday, September 12, on STV and STV Player.

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