More than 1,000 people have backed a family’s bid to keep a convicted child killer behind bars.
Scott Simpson, 9, was abducted from a park near to his city home by Steven Leisk, then 34, in July 1997.
The youngster’s body was found five days later, within the grounds of Aberdeen University. He had been strangled.
Now, his loved ones have been told Leisk has launched a parole bid – and they have responded with a campaign to keep the “monster” locked up.
With help from her five siblings, Scott’s sister Sarah Watt created two online petitions and a paper version which has so far drawn more than 1,000 signatures.
The mum-of-three told the Evening Express she is hoping the petition will show the parole board the strength of feeling against Leisk’s release.
Ms Watt, 39, said: “He murdered my brother in cold blood. Leisk is a manipulative, deceitful monster who needs to stay behind bars.”
Scott was playing in a park near his Powis Circle home when he was lured to his death by Leisk.
His disappearance sparked a huge manhunt and eventually his body was found hidden in bushes in a lane in Old Aberdeen.
Leisk, who had a string of convictions for sex offences dating back to 1984 and had been jailed three times, had been living in a flat overlooking the park where Scott was last seen alive.
He was jailed for 25 years in November 1997. That was cut to 20 years in 2002 due to human rights laws.
Ms Watt added: “He has not been around children for 20 years, so how can we know he will be safe around them?”
A parole board spokesman said: “We do not comment on individual cases.”
If parole were to be approved, Leask would initially be allowed to leave jail on the first occasion under a day release scheme for training, employment or education.
