Man with learning problems 'bullied to death'

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

An 18-year-old man was last night arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Detectives were forced to insist they had done "everything" possible to protect Mr Askew.

One neighbour said his 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 members of which have anti-social behaviour orders for harassing the victim – had begun a "particular spate" of attacks recently, the officer leading the investigation said.

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

"For the past two or three weeks the harassment has moved to the front of the house, which never usually happened. 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 called to the address in Melandra Crescent on Wednesday discovered Mr Askew collapsed outside. He had not been attacked and was pronounced dead at the scene. Results of a post-mortem 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 their response. She said: "It's a sad fact that, if people are different in a community, sometimes they end up being targeted.

"I think we have done everything we can. The level of personal involvement my staff and housing officers have had cannot be stressed enough."

One councillor, Jonathan Reynolds, said the local authority had been aware of Mr Askew's plight for several years.

There were tearful scenes among neighbours as more learned of his death.

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.

"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 lived near the Askews for 39 years said she saw his body on the ground under a white sheet outside the house.

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."