Disabled man ‘tormented to death’ by yobs for a decade

A 64-YEAR-OLD man with learning difficulties was “tormented to death” after being bullied by yobs for more than a decade, neighbours have claimed.

Police and authorities were warned David Askew was being targeted years before he was found dead at his home in Hattersley, Greater Manchester.

Last night, detectives were forced to insist they had done “everything” possible to protect him.

One neighbour said Mr Askew’s ordeal had been “like bear-baiting”.

Mr Askew, who lived with his brother, Brian, and wheelchair-bound mother, Rose, was found dead outside his house after police were told youngsters were causing an “annoyance” at his property on Wednesday night.

Gangs — some of whom have antisocial behaviour orders for harassing the victim — launched a “particular spate” of attacks recently, officers said.

But Mr Askew’s neighbour, Avona Davies, 49, said the torment had been going on far longer.

“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.

“For the past two or three weeks the harassment has moved to the front of the house, which never usually happened. (On Wednesday) 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.”

Police officers who called to the house Tuesday night discovered Mr Askew collapsed outside. He had not been attacked and was pronounced dead at the scene. Results of a postmortem examination were expected later.

Chief Superintendent Zoe Hamilton, of Greater Manchester Police, said it was too early to say if criminal charges would follow as she defended the force’s involvement with the Askews. “It’s a sad fact that, if people are different in a community, sometimes they end up being targeted.”

Ms Davies said her neighbour was targeted because of his learning difficulties, adding: “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.”

The shop worker said his tormentors were aged 18 or 19, adding: “It’s so sad it’s come to this.

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