The grieving uncle of murdered six-year-old Alesha MacPhail has made a public plea for support after his niece's killer had his sentence reduced.

Calum MacPhail launched a desperate appeal this afternoon after it was announced 17-year-old Aaron Campbell's minimum jail term had been reduced by three years to just 24 years.

He said the family had been told the likelihood for Campbell both being granted an appeal and having his sentence reduced was very low, despite both happening in the last few months.

Now, Calum and his family are fearful that the killer could be released at the end of his minimum term.

READ MORE: Alesha MacPhail killer Aaron Campbell has sentence reduced by three years after successful appeal

Today, Calum said: "They told us it be very unlikely for him to be granted an appeal which he was granted; they told us it would be unlikely for him to be granted the reduction on his sentence.

"So how can we believe when they say he is unlikely to be released?"

Campbell was jailed for 27 years before parole earlier this year, but claimed his sentence was 'excessive' and appealed the decision last month.

The then-16-year-old had taken young Alesha from her bed in July 2018, before carrying her to nearby woodland where he raped and murdered her.

Campbell was today told his sentence had been reduced from 27 years to 24 on the grounds that the revised term was 'appropriate to reflect the appellant's youth'.

Calum has now returned to his long-running petition to make the case for dangerous teen criminals to be tried as adults.

READ MORE: Mum of tragic girl 'livid' at Aaron Campbell appeal grant

His 38 Degrees site has now attracted almost 25,000 signatures, and he says he has now contacted Humza Yousaf MSP once again with the case.

He has called on the public to support his cause, and added: "I will need your help to spread the word and put pressure on our government to make a change to keep these individuals off the street and our families safe."

You can view his petition here.