Man with learning difficulties 'tortured to death'

A 64-year-old man with learning difficulties was "tormented to death" after being bullied by yobs for more than a decade, neighbours claimed today.

Police had been warned David Askew was being targeted before he was found dead at his home in Hattersley, Greater Manchester, last night, locals said.

One neighbour said he had been "tormented to death - like bear baiting".

Residents criticised police and officials for not supporting Mr Askew and his brother Brian and mother Rose, who was wheelchair-bound.

Officers were called to the address on Melandra Crescent last night after being told yobs were causing an "annoyance".

When they arrived the youths had vanished but officers discovered the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

As news of his death spread, neighbours told how Mr Askew had been the victim of a campaign of harassment.

Avona Davies, 49, said: "This has been going on for about 10 years. We have complained to the police and council and they put cameras in their back garden about three years ago.

"They tormented David for money and cigarettes. They harassed him every night without fail."

There were tearful scenes as neighbours described Mr Askew's torment.

Mrs Davies, a shop worker, said sometimes the gang would just be a few teenagers.

At other times big gangs of youths would climb into neighbours' gardens and smash windows.

She added: "For the past two or three weeks the harassment has moved to the front of the house, which never usually happened. Last night it started really early. I got home about 6.30 and it was already happening.

"We have stopped complaining for about 12 months because nothing gets done.

"David had learning difficulties and I think that is why they tormented him because he would scream out of the window at them. They would torment him all the time.

"Sometimes it would be two of them, others it would be six kids or a big gang.

"David would throw money and cigarettes into our garden to get rid of them but they would always go back. That's why they did it.

"There had been screaming and shouting between the hoodies and David before but never physical violence.

"We have had our patio windows put through and David's windows were smashed lots of times because they would throw stuff. They hounded them.

Paying tribute to Mr Askew's public spirit, she added: "He was very neighbourly.

"A woman collapsed in the road before Christmas and he was out first to help and call an ambulance."

She said his tormentors were "about 18 or 19 years old".

"It's so sad it's come to this," she added. "I couldn't believe it this morning.

"That it has come to somebody dying for all these people to be around - the press, the police and council - for something to happen.

"I haven't seen anyone around here in the three years I've lived here."

A neighbour who has lived near the Askews for 39 years said "his misery is over".

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: "Last night I came out to talk to a neighbour and there was a body on the ground under a white sheet.

"We didn't know who it was then. I said if it is David his misery is over. I couldn't sleep last night.

"I was talking to my dead husband asking him to take care of David.

"I got up at 4am and looked out to see them taking the black body bag away."

The resident broke down as she remembered happier times bringing up her son "when everyone respected each other and got along".

She went on: "Not that many children live around here so this gang comes from elsewhere. They would come and bait David, he was a harmless soul.

"They would wind him up something dreadful. Every year the youngest brother would join in - the next generation.

"They always knew he would retaliate. I saw more police last night than in ten years.

"We have the occasional plastic one come round but they just want to be everyone's friend. It is tragic - like bear baiting - tormented to death."

The widow said a meeting was held last year with local councillors to discuss the Askews' problems.

She added that Mr Askew liked nothing more than reading the newspapers, smoking and the occasional bet.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death has been launched and inquiries are ongoing.

Councillors from Tameside Council met Mr Askew and his family in the past, a source at the authority confirmed.

The case has echoes of the death of Fiona Pilkington, 38, who was driven to such despair by abuse that she drove her car to a lay-by and set it alight while she and her 18-year-old disabled daughter sat inside.

Their bodies were found in the family's Austin Maestro just off the A47 near Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, in October 2007.

An inquest into her death heard Leicester Police logged 33 complaints from Ms Pilkington about a gang between 2000 and 2007, including 13 in the 10 months before her death.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson was in the North West today talking about yob culture, but on a visit to Manchester he refused to be drawn on the case of Mr Askew.

He said: "We have got all the powers in place to tackle anti-social behaviour. What we need to ensure is that all the agencies, not just the police, are working together.

"Independent monitoring is a crucial part of getting our response to anti-social behaviour absolutely right everywhere, not just in one force but in all 43 forces."

The results of a post-mortem examination are expected tonight. However, Chief Superintendent Zoe Hamilton said Mr Askew was not physically attacked.

She said it was too early to say if criminal charges would follow and she defended the force's involvement with the Askews.

She said: "My team and the neighbourhood team have been in daily contact virtually with David and his family to address the problems they have been having.

"I would like to make clear we don't believe David's death was the result of a physical attack and we would urge anyone who might have been involved in the incident before or any members of the community who know what happened and who was involved to come forward please.

"That would really give David's family some closure in terms of exactly what happened."

She said Mr Askew's family made the 999 call and officers arrived within nine minutes.

Local yobs - some of whom have ASBOs for harassing the victim - have launched a "particular spate" of attacks recently, the officer said.

It was all because of Mr Askew's disabilities, she added.

"It's a sad fact that if people are different in a community sometimes they end up being targeted."

Police tried a range of tactics, including covertly placing officers inside the house in readiness for an incident.

But the yobs never struck when that trap was laid.

Ms Hamilton said: "I think we have done everything we can.

"The level of personal involvement my staff and housing officers have had cannot be stressed enough."

She added that her officers were hugely upset by Mr Askew's death.

Jonathan Reynolds, a local councillor for Longdendale, said officials had discussed Mr Askew's plight in 2007 and arranged for CCTV to be installed on his home.

He said: "I do remember a meeting at the request of residents shortly after my election in 2007. We were told Dave was getting harassment. The main request from the council was to put up CCTV on his house."

He said the meetings were arranged by the local neighbourhood partnership.

Mr Reynolds added: "People were aware of the situation and police and the council will have had continued involvement in more recent years."