A KILLER who stabbed his neighbour to death over a petty parking row is back on the streets — after only four and a half years in jail.
Craig McCarroll served just over half his sentence for knifing boyhood pal Thomas Nelson, 24, in Wishaw, Lanarkshire.
Thomas’ heartbroken mum has told how she will forever be living in fear because her son’s doorstep killer is back on the streets of her town.
Sharon Nelson says she is the one condemned to a life sentence after “monster” Craig McCarroll was released from prison.
The mum-of-three told how she’s terrified of seeing her ex-next door neighbour who stabbed son Thomas through his heart.
Sharon, of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, told The Scottish Sun: “I’m always looking over my shoulder. It’s only a matter of time before I see him and that makes me very anxious.
“The family at least sold their house and moved to another part of town but that monster shouldn’t even be allowed to stay in the same town as me.”
McCarroll, 34 — who was a long-time best pal of Thomas, 24 — clashed with him over his other friends leaving their motors outside his house.
The pair ended up on the ground in a scuffle, which ended with McCarroll stabbing him to death.
Supermarket manager Sharon, 53, said: “I was gobsmacked that he’s served just four years of his eight-year sentence, but that’s our justice system.
“It’s like my son’s life didn’t matter. It makes me sick to my stomach and is just totally unfair.”
McCarroll has been boasting about his release on social media.
And Sharon — who keeps Thomas’s ashes in a teardrop ornament — saw a photo of the killer giving a thumbs up.
One of his pals added the words “Ma boy is free” to the Snapchat post.
Sharon — who has had no apology for her loss — said: “He probably feels like he’s served his time and can put it all behind him. But I’m left living with the trauma of him taking my son away from me forever.”
“It’s like my son’s life didn’t matter. It makes me sick to my stomach and is just totally unfair.”
She added: “I maybe would’ve felt different if there had been remorse. To think he’d stayed next door for more than 20 years, I’ve known him since he was a little boy.”
Ex-warehouse worker McCarroll had faced a murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow but pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of culpable homicide over the April 2020 attack.
Sharon said: “Four-and-a-half years for my son’s life is a disgusting insult. Thomas had a lot of life left to live but that life was robbed from him by that monster.
“I think about Thomas every single day. It happened right on our doorstep.”
Scottish Tory victims spokeswoman Sharon Dowey said: “It is outrageous that this violent killer is freely walking the streets after only serving just over half his sentence.
“This victim’s mother should never have to fear bumping into her son’s killer again, but that is the dangerous reality that she is now facing.”
