The mother of a Calne teenager killed by her ex-boyfriend has said her daughter's life was worth "so much more" than the sentence her killer received.

Ellie Gould was stabbed in the neck at least 13 times with a kitchen knife by Thomas Griffiths.

Then 17, he was jailed for a minimum of 12 and a half years by Mr Justice Garnham at Bristol Crown Court in November 2019 after being convicted of Ellie's murder.

Three years after her daughter's death, she is now calling for tougher sentences 

After Griffiths was sentenced, Ellie's parents petitioned the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Attorney General to increase his time in prison.

They claimed it was overly lenient in light of the severity and savagery with which she died.

Her parents, Carole and Matthew were advised, however, that the case would not be sent to the Court of Appeal.

Carole told the Daily Mail it "is so wrong" that he "has already served a quarter of his sentence", questioning: "What justice?"

Accompanied by a picture of Ellie, Carole tweeted: “Three years ago our precious daughter Ellie was brutally murdered in our home by a controlling ex.

“Her beautiful life taken, our lives shattered perpetrator's punishment 12.5 years. What justice?”

Responding to a comment, the mother added: “He will have to serve the minimum term of 12.5 years before the parole board decide if he can be released but the last three years of his sentence will be in an open prison.

“He is already a quarter of his way through his sentence it's so wrong.

“Ellie's life was worth so much more.”

Referring to criminals convicted of domestic homicide, she also wrote: “They should get much tougher sentences that properly reflect the heinous crime and danger they pose particularly towards women.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told MailOnline: “This was a despicable crime and our thoughts remain with the family of Ellie Gould.

“Protecting women and girls and bringing abusers to justice is this government’s priority which is why we have changed the law to introduce longer minimum starting points for some older children who commit murder - making sure they reflect the gravity of the offence.”

Carole previously said: “We've been completely let down by the judicial system.

“It feels like there's nothing else that we can do.

“He's committed a crime and he's not getting a fair sentence for it.

“Nothing makes sense anymore.”