Baroness Newlove, the Victims’ Commissioner and campaigner, whose husband Garry was murdered by a gang of teenagers in 2007, has died aged 63.

In a statement the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner said: “We are deeply saddened to share that Baroness Helen Newlove, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, has passed away following a short illness. Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.

“Helen was a committed and passionate advocate for victims, drawing on her own experience of the criminal justice system. She was determined that all victims should be treated with compassion, decency and respect – and she consistently led by example.”

Baroness Newlove had called for the death penalty to be brought back after her husband died in 2007 and has campaigned on behalf of victims of crime since.

Mr Newlove, a salesman with a plastics company, left his home to remonstrate with the group of drunk teenagers who had damaged his wife’s car.

He was kicked “like a football” in front of his terrified wife and three daughters. He suffered massive head injuries and died two days later in hospital.

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