THE MOTHER of child killer Mary Bell's first victim has died aged 68.

June Richardson's son Martin Brown, four, was strangled to death by 10-year-old Bell in a derelict house in Newcastle in 1968.

Three months later, she went on to kill and mutilate three-year-old Brian Howe and was sentenced to indefinite detention after being convicted of two counts of manslaughter.

Bell was released after serving 12 years in 1980.

Martin's mother devoted her life to helping others following her son's death from which her family say she never recovered.

She became an outspoken campaigner for the rights of victims and was moved to speak out in 1998 after writer Gitta Sereny paid Bell £50,000 for interviews about her early life which were published in a controversial book called Cries Unheard.

Mrs Richardson branded the payments "blood money" and sparked a parliamentary investigation in an attempt to ban the book.

She supported Bell's daughter's bid for anonymity, saying she did not blame her for the crimes of her mother - although she could never forgive Bell herself.

Her family have paid tribute after she died of lung cancer on April 2.

Mrs Richardson’s daughter, Linda Brown, 46, said: "She never got over what happened.

"How do you ever get over it? She still marked our Martin's birthday every year."

Her daughter, Sharon, 40, said : "We are very proud of her. She put her pain to one side to help others.

"She helped so many families. If she could be there for someone, she would be.

"We have had beautiful messages of condolence from all over the country. She will be hugely missed by a lot of people."

Mrs Richardson, originally of Scotswood, Newcastle, later moved to a caravan in Amble, Northumberland and leaves seven grandchildren.

As part of her campaigning work, she joined forces with the National Victims'

Association (NVA) and Mothers Against Murder and Aggression (Mamaa).

Lynn Costello, founder of Mamaa, said: "She was a formidable voice in the victims' community and her lasting legacy will be the input she had in developing how we come to understand the trauma that affects these families.”

Mrs Richardson will be laid to rest tomorrow (Wednesday, April 10) at a private family funeral.