Bullied to Death

One of the saddest stories of the week involved the untimely and unecessary death of a 64 year-old man with learning difficulties - David Askew - who was bullied mercilessly for years by young thugs outside his home in Hattersly - Greater Manchester.

A inquest into David Askew's death heard that he was subjected to 30 years of torment - before the coroner ruled that he was unlawfully killed.

A pathologist told the inquest an altercation with local youths - just ten minutes minutes before he collapsed - had been a factor in his death.

But this was just the straw that broke the camel's back - because David Askew had been the target of a concerted campaign of bullying by local youths - over a period of years.

The coroner - John Pollard - criticised the failure of the poilice and others to protect Mr Agnew  and said there was a "staggering degree of inertia and complacency" shown by police, the council and housing associations - in dealing with this anti-social behaviour.

Before adding - "The fact that there is 38 separate offences reported against this family within a three-year period shows the appalling way in which this element of feral youths can bring misery to a decent, vulnerable family."

Mr Agnew's 90-year old Mum had the terrible task of burying her own son - and told the inquest that David had endured "long-suffering torment" - before he was finally killed.

What I find staggering is the fact that the neighbours of the Agnew family must have kept their heads down - and walked on by - while a gang of youths took pleasure in harrassing and tormenting this man.

Now if a cat or a dog had been treated that way - something would have happened.

But the fact is that a 64 year-old man was bullied and victimised - until his weakened heart finally gave out.

The local community should be thoroughly ashamed of itself - people just looked the other way when they should have intervened.

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