LIFE IN THE U.K. - PERSON HARRASSED TO DEATH
and/or www.mantra.com/jai
-From Times Online
Thursday, March 11, 2010
David Askew collapsed and died after decade of attacks Polce outside
a house in the Hattersley area of Greater Manchester. A 64-year-old
man was found dead outside a house after they were called to the
address where yobs were causing an annoyance
(Dave Thompson/PA Wire)
David Askew had been tormented for over a decade, neighbours said
Jenny Booth
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."
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 said his tormentors were
"about 18 or 19 years old".
"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 6.30pm and it was already
happening," she added.
"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.
"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."
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, 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.
Related Links
* Police 'failing on antisocial behaviour'
* Fiona Pilkington 'should not have died'
* Nottingham police is worst force, figures show
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article7058163.ece
End of forwarded article from R. C.
Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
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