Heartbreak of stab girl's parents

Michelle Ratcliffe's parents Ron and Jean told how they had been living a nightmare since the 26-year-old was knifed to death five weeks ago.

Today they paid tribute to their daughter and said she would be remembered as a popular, bright and devoted mother.

Michelle was found with a single stab wound at her home in Holloway Street, Stow Heath, on July 21.

Her death has left six-year-old Shannon, five-year-old Sophie, Charlotte, three and one-year-old Kyle, facing a future without a mother.

"It gets very hard at times, especially when there are tears," said Ron, aged 53. "We are just trying to get through it together."

Michelle grew up in Hurst Hill, Bilston. Known as Shelly, she was the third child of six. Younger brother Damien died at 14 months.

She was educated at Hurst Hill Primary School and then Parkfield High.

She worked as an adminstrator at AMI in Woden Road, Heath Town.

In 1999, she became pregnant with Shannon and spent the next seven years bringing up her family.

Her death rocked the community with hundreds of mourners at her funeral at Darkhouse Baptist Church in Coseley.

Now her parents are fighting for custody of her children and help them live as normal a life as possible.

"She lived for her kids," said 46-year-old Jean. "They meant everything to her. She was a fantastic mother.

"They do seem fine at the moment, although they know what has happened to their mum. When someone comes to the house they will say: 'Mummy's died'.

"They do have their moments when they are withdrawn at times but most of they time they are okay. We just want to keep their mum's memory alive."

• Jason Patterson, aged 28, of no fixed address, has been charged with Michelle's murder.