My boys, I kept my promise...

Mum who lost 2 sons to killer ex wins 11-year fight to change law

- MICHELLE RAWLINS

After her two sons were murdered by their abusive father, their mother has fulfilled the promise she made as they died in her arms by changing the law to keep children safe.

For 11 years, Claire Throssell has campaigned to end the presumption of contact guidelines in the family courts, to stop children being forced to see an abusive parent.

Her sons Jack, 12, and Paul, nine, died after their father, Darren Sykes, lured them to the attic of the family home in Penistone, near Sheffield, and set fire to the house.

He died in the blaze but not before ensuring his sons would not survive, after starting 14 separate fires around the house in October 2014.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised Claire: “We are going to change to do this. We will take presumption of contact out of law. It is going to happen.

“I have to humbly salute your courage. You have waited too long.”

Holding a picture of Jack and Paul, he added: “I have two children and what you have done for children is amazing. I completely admire you. To take this to the next stage, I don't know if I would have had the courage to do what you have done.”