THE father of murdered hairdresser Hollie Gazzard spoke to pupils at a Forest school about abusive relationships and knife crime.

Hollie was killed by Asher Maslin in a savage knife attack at the hair salon in Gloucester where she worked in February 2014.

Following her death, her family set up the Hollie Gazzard Trust to raise awareness of ‘coercive control’ and to help young hairdressers and beauticians fulfil their ambitions.

Her father, Nick Gazzard, was invited to Forest High School in Cinderford where pupils have been learning about domestic abuse in personal, social and health education.

There were signs that Maslin was controlling Hollie’s life – such as when she gave up jobs on a cruise ship and in London – but her family did not realise the significance.

He said: “When she set her mind to something she would really persevere.

“Something was not right but we didn’t pick up on it.”

He added: “Hollie is an important part of our family and always will be.

“We miss her terribly and, as the judge said in sentencing, the world has lost a treasure.”

Mr Gazzard also made an impassioned plea for teenagers not to carry knives.

He said: “Hollie was killed as the result of a knife – carrying a knife is not cool.

“If you believe a knife will protect you, it won’t – statistics show you are more likely to get hurt if you carry a knife.

“Think of the damage you can do: that knife ended Hollie’s life and had a profound effect on me, Chloe (Hollie’s sister), her mum, grandparents and friends.

“The message regarding knives is very simple: please do not carry them.”

The Hollie Gazzard Trust works closely with Gloucestershire and the Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS).

Clare Roche of GDASS said: “Coercive control is a process of breaking down someone’s will­power and brainwashing them. It is reducing them, taking away their freedom.

“Depression, anxiety, OCD even eating disorders are symptoms of being in an abusive relationship and it may come out in different ways, maybe you show a lot of anger, maybe you are introverted.”

She told pupils that if friends were exhibiting such behaviour, they could help.

She said: “Don’t get angry and frustrated – become curious about how you can help them.”

The Trust’s work is funded entirely from donations and the academy’s community team presented Mr Gazzard with a cheque for £50.