Sylvia Welsh recounts the horrific experience of finding her son, Reece Allen, fatally stabbed in the street and cradling him as he died. Ten years after the incident, she shares her enduring pain and regret, stating she wishes she had died instead of her 24-year-old son. Reece was lured out of his home in North Shields by Joe Welsh, who smashed Sylvia's window in the early hours of January 25, 2016. Sylvia followed Reece when he went to investigate, only to find him bleeding and struggling to breathe. Despite her desperate attempts to save him, Reece succumbed to multiple stab wounds later in the hospital.
Sylvia described how Joe Welsh, whom she had never seen before, appeared at her window, angry and shouting. She regrets not answering the door, fearing she might have been attacked herself, and later wished she had confronted him directly. When Reece, who had been out with friends, arrived home, Sylvia informed him about the incident and the direction the perpetrator had fled. Reece ran after him, with Sylvia in pursuit, attempting to stop him. She then witnessed three people approaching, one shouting for her. Reece staggered towards her and collapsed into her arms.
The killer, Joe Welsh, targeted Reece following a minor dispute on Facebook. He had a history of violence and had been drinking and taking drugs, making threats earlier that day. He intentionally smashed Sylvia's window, knowing it would provoke Reece, who was protective of his mother. Joe Welsh was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 25 years, but Sylvia states this has brought her no peace. She describes how her life has been irrevocably altered, with even joyous occasions feeling dulled. Her grandchildren are a source of strength, but she wakes each day with the profound realization that Reece is gone and faces the challenge of getting through each day. Sylvia warns that knife crime devastates everyone involved and strongly advises against carrying weapons, as it inevitably leads to their use. Reece had been on the verge of positive changes, awaiting a job opportunity and hoping to move into his own flat.