Diary of hate and torment which ended with tragedy

[Alison J Stevens]

Diary of hate and torment which ended with tragedy

Francecca Hardwick

The full harrowing catalogue of incidents contained in the writ are set out below.  We have decided to publish all of them because they paint a picture of what the Pilkington family says caused the unbearable stress and anxiety which eventually drove Fiona to kill herself and Francecca.

The writ against the authorities states that the family was subjected to “many more incidents of anti-social behaviour, harassment and bullying than those reported”.

The document says the following incidents were reported between 1997 and 2007 to Leicestershire police, unless stated otherwise.

1: November 17, 1997

Theft of Fiona’s cheque book and DSS disability book.

2:  October 4, 2000

Children lighting fires and verbal abuse. Incident closed by police.

3:  October 30, 2000

Children throwing eggs. Incident closed by police.

4:  March 26, 2003

Anthony was missing and there was concern about bullying.

5:  August 3, 2003

Anthony was assaulted. There was a lot of trouble at school. Also reported to Leicestershire County Council (LCC).

6:  August 19, 2003

Fiona did not wish the incident of August 3 to be taken any further.

7:  January 9, 2004

Local youths throwing stones and setting fire to the gates of Fiona’s home.

She was advised by police to telephone when incidents were occurring. Incident closed by police.

8:  January 24, 2004

Anthony received threats to kill with five youths throwing stones. Incident closed by police.

9:  January 28, 2004

Anthony received threats at school and was removed. Also reported to LCC.

10:  February 24, 2004

Anthony received further threats at school. Police officer visited. Also reported to LCC.

11:  April 19, 2004

999 call made. Police officer attended.

12:  April 29, 2004

Contact with the local MP resulting in a police inspector becoming involved.

13:  June 11, 2004

Fiona wrote to the inspector and reported ongoing problems with local youths. The same day she reported four named youths were sitting on her car bonnet and mooning her. Fiona called again 30 minutes later. The offenders had returned twice. The incident was closed.

14:  June 14, 2004

Fiona told a social worker employed by LCC that her family was being bullied and that she felt harassed and threatened. The social worker discussed this with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) and instructed Fiona to contact HBBC.

15:  June 22, 2004

Fiona reported ongoing problems with local youths, naming two families from which the youths came. The youths were taunting Francecca on account of her disabilities and, when Fiona asked them to leave, they verbally abused her.

Fiona mentioned that she had previously dealt with police and HBBC. Police advised Fiona there were no complaints of crime and closed the incident. An officer visited Fiona at home but she did not want to complain.

16:  June 25, 2004

Fiona reported that a neighbour’s son was throwing items over the fence and being abusive towards Anthony, bullying him to the extent that he had to be removed from school. No action was taken. Incident closed by police.

This was also reported to LCC. A social worker attended and indicated that police were aware of the anti-social behaviour and that they were co-operating with the anti-social behaviour (ASB) unit of HBBC. LCC knew family was being bullied at home, that Anthony was being bullied at school and that Fiona felt harassed.

17:  July 3, 2004

Pam Cassell reported an incident where Anthony had been locked in a garden shed by two boys aged 11. Anthony had to smash a window to break out. Anthony was interviewed and a statement from Fiona was taken by police. Incident was closed on July 15, 2004. HBBC was informed.

18

In her statement to police, Fiona said there had been serial bullying and verbal and physical abuse of Anthony, that those incidents had been reported to school officials at LCC on numerous occasions, but that the problems had not been sorted out and that Anthony was still being bullied by a few of these children.

The police had been informed of the problems on numerous occasions, but no formal action had been taken to date.

19

Fiona asked for the youths, naming three in particular, to be spoken to and formally warned regarding their behaviour towards herself and her family. A police officer spoke to an LCC employee and made contact with HBBC. This officer visited the families and issued warnings. The report was closed.

20:  July 28, 2004

Fiona reported that Anthony had been beaten up in the street by two youths who had tried to hit him with an iron bar. Anthony wished to take no further action and a police officer issued harassment warnings to the two youths.

21:  August 25, 2004

Fiona reported three youths, two of whom were named, walking down the street knocking over all the rubbish bins. No action was taken. The incident was closed.

22:  July 19, 2005

Telephone referral from the GP to LCC that Fiona’s family had visited the surgery following bruising to Francecca, caused by difficulties getting on and off the school bus.

23:  July 29, 2005

Recorded by LCC that Francecca was being violent to all family members. LCC’s adult social care service manager was unhappy about why referral was made.

24:  October 28, 2005

Fiona reported that several youths in the area were jumping over garden hedges. Fiona knew the offenders and it was ongoing.

No action was taken on the incident.

Fiona called again after three hours indicating that the youths were still there being a nuisance. No action was taken.

25:  November 3, 2005

Fiona reported that youths were jumping on her hedge and shouting obscenities. The incident was closed by police and no action was taken.

26:  October 13, 2006

Pam reported on behalf of Anthony that he had been pushed into the side of a van, which had caused an injury to his hand. Pam named three people. A police officer attended on October 21, 2006. The incident was closed with no action being taken.

27

There were further reports of incidents in 2006, the details of which are not available to the claimants.

28:  February 1, 2007

Fiona wrote to her MP indicating that she really did not know how to handle anything anymore. HBBC was involved.

29:  February 2, 2007

A report was made on behalf of Fiona of bottles being smashed and abusive behaviour by 12 people outside her property. Fiona and her family spent two nights locked in the house. No police officer attended. The incident was closed.

30:  February 8, 2007

Fiona reported snowballs being thrown and ongoing problems. A police officer attended. Incident was closed as rowdy behaviour.

31:  February 12, 2007

A HBBC community safety officer visited Fiona. The safety officer sent out anti-social behaviour warning letters to the parents of certain youths and visited all the parents, save one family who did not want a visit at their home.

32:  February 13, 2007

Fiona reported that six local youths were screaming outside her property. No action was taken and the incident was closed by the police.

33:  February 26, 2007

LCC was informed and knew that Fiona was expressing suicidal thoughts and knew of the harassment that she and her family were being subjected to. This information was obtained at a transitions review meeting at Francecca’s school.

34:  March 11, 2007

Fiona reported eight noisy youths on the road. A police officer was to have a chat with the youths in question.

35:  April 6, 2007

Fiona reported that Anthony was being bullied again.

Youths had thrown stones at him as he was riding his bicycle, hitting his head.

This was treated as an episode of anti-social behaviour by police.

36: April 10, 2007

HBBC’s safety officer visited Fiona for second time and was informed about further episodes of anti-social behaviour and harassment.

37:  April 19, 2007

Anthony had been given money by someone to buy cigarettes.

38:  May 10, 2007

Fiona recorded in an incident diary provided to her by HBBC that youths were ramming a bike into her car and hedge.

39:  May 12, 2007

Fiona recorded in the same incident diary that four named people were shouting up at her house windows between 11.30pm and 2.30am. Fiona drew back the curtains and they vanished.

40:  May 13, 2007

Fiona recorded in the incident diary that there was a youth outside with his mates using broom handles to bash her hedge. Fiona recorded that she was fed up. The incident diary was not collected by HBBC prior to Fiona’s death.

41:  June 2, 2007

Fiona reported youths smoking in her garden. A police officer considered that Fiona had over-reacted. No action was taken.

42:  July 3, 2007

Fiona was visited by a police officer and gave information about her harassment by neighbours.

43:  August 10, 2007

Fiona complained about loud music and youths drinking outside her home. A police officer attended.

44:  September 25, 2007

Pam reported a broken window. Fiona was too frightened to live on her own and Pam had moved in. House-to-house inquiries were made by a police officer, but the identity of the offender was not known.

45:  September 26, 2007

Pam reported seven children on bikes throwing stones at Fiona’s home. A police officer attended and spoke to children throwing stones. The incident was closed.

46:  September 28, 2007

Fiona reported windows being smashed. Police made door-to-door inquiries. No action was taken.

47:  October 4, 2007

Fiona reported stones being thrown at her window. No action was taken.

48:  October 23, 2007

Fiona reported that the youths were walking on their hedge and imitating the way that Francecca walked. Fiona was instructed by a police officer to ignore them.

Later that day, Fiona took Francecca in her car to a layby on the A47, doused the interior with petrol and set it alight. Both died.