by Patrick Gearey

The father of a murdered Kent teenage actor is working with movie legend Ray Winstone to produce a film about the problem of knife crime.

Colin Knox, 56, of Empire Walk, Greenhithe, lost his son, Harry Potter star Rob, when he was stabbed to death outside a Sidcup bar last year and has persuaded the star of films like King Arthur and Scum to join him in his fight against blades.

Both Rob, who was brought up in Medway, and his brother Jamie worked with Mr Winstone on King Arthur, although their parts did not make the final edit, and Colin has been keen to enlist the services of the tough guy actor for some time.

He said: “Obviously Ray is very busy but we have been waiting for the nod to come through. On the particular Friday I got that information I just punched the air.

“I haven’t been that happy for ages.”

The film will be professionally produced and will feature Mr Knox’s son Jamie who, like his brother, is an actor. Mr Knox hopes Ray will boost his campaign.

“We are going to add some quality acting to what we have got already and the guy is going to amplify the message that we are trying to get over by being in the film.”

The film is just one of a number of initiatives Mr Knox is involved with to fight knife crime. Earlier this year he visited the Prime Minister to call for a mandatory six month custodial sentence for anyone found carrying a knife and he works closely with Charlton Athletic’s campaign against street violence.

He has also written a song about Rob which is due to be released next month and he is holding a dinner commemorating his son’s life on October 15 which has already sold out.

And Colin is clear about the purpose of his work.

“I have got so much energy. I think it is coming via Robert into me because I have got so many fingers in so many pies. I am just running with the whole lot at the moment because it all makes sense to me.

“I want knives off the street permanently”