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| Angela Wrightson killing by two girls 'could not have been predicted' | Angela Wrightson killing by two girls 'could not have been predicted' |
| (7 months later) | |
| Social services were in contact with pair but could not have prevented murder of vulnerable woman, reports conclude | |
| Helen Pidd North of England editor | |
| Tue 13 Jun 2017 17.09 BST | |
| Last modified on Tue 13 Jun 2017 17.30 BST | |
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| Social workers could not have predicted that two teenage girls would torture and murder a vulnerable woman, despite the girls and their victim being known to social services, a series of investigations have found. | Social workers could not have predicted that two teenage girls would torture and murder a vulnerable woman, despite the girls and their victim being known to social services, a series of investigations have found. |
| The killers, a 13- and 14-year-old who posed for Snapchat selfies while putting Angela Wrightson through a five-hour ordeal, were already known for absconding, drinking and being sexually active, a review of the case has found. | The killers, a 13- and 14-year-old who posed for Snapchat selfies while putting Angela Wrightson through a five-hour ordeal, were already known for absconding, drinking and being sexually active, a review of the case has found. |
| Wrightson, 39, was attacked late one night in December 2014 with a shovel, a TV, a coffee table and a stick studded with screws after letting the girls into her Hartlepool home. | Wrightson, 39, was attacked late one night in December 2014 with a shovel, a TV, a coffee table and a stick studded with screws after letting the girls into her Hartlepool home. |
| The teenagers received life sentences, with a minimum of 15 years behind bars, after a trial in April last year at Leeds crown court. Neither can be identified. | The teenagers received life sentences, with a minimum of 15 years behind bars, after a trial in April last year at Leeds crown court. Neither can be identified. |
| Hartlepool Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board carried out reviews into what happened. Their reports, published on Tuesday, found that all parties, including Wrightson, had received a high level of intervention from social services. | Hartlepool Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board carried out reviews into what happened. Their reports, published on Tuesday, found that all parties, including Wrightson, had received a high level of intervention from social services. |
| Wrightson, who had suffered from mental health issues and substance misuse for most of her life, had complained that young people – “schoolies” in her vernacular – would come to her house and vandalise it. They kicked in her door and smashed her windows and taunted her so badly that she began to pay people from her benefits to leave her alone. | Wrightson, who had suffered from mental health issues and substance misuse for most of her life, had complained that young people – “schoolies” in her vernacular – would come to her house and vandalise it. They kicked in her door and smashed her windows and taunted her so badly that she began to pay people from her benefits to leave her alone. |
| By August 2013, authorities were aware that she was sometimes sleeping on a beach to avoid being at home. She had also made several allegations of sexual and physical assault, which never led to charges or prosecution. In addition, she claimed that two women used her home as a brothel. | By August 2013, authorities were aware that she was sometimes sleeping on a beach to avoid being at home. She had also made several allegations of sexual and physical assault, which never led to charges or prosecution. In addition, she claimed that two women used her home as a brothel. |
| Wrightson had been accused of 175 offences, most of which were carried out while she was intoxicated. Sometimes her vulnerability was mistaken for criminality. Once she accidentally started a small fire in her kitchen and ended up being arrested on suspicion of arson, despite the fire service raising an internal safeguarding alert. | Wrightson had been accused of 175 offences, most of which were carried out while she was intoxicated. Sometimes her vulnerability was mistaken for criminality. Once she accidentally started a small fire in her kitchen and ended up being arrested on suspicion of arson, despite the fire service raising an internal safeguarding alert. |
| Between January 2012 until her death in December 2014, there were 472 reported incidents to the police involving Wrightson, who made 219 of the calls herself. She had also attended A&E 71 times. | Between January 2012 until her death in December 2014, there were 472 reported incidents to the police involving Wrightson, who made 219 of the calls herself. She had also attended A&E 71 times. |
| Two serious case reviews about the teenage girls were also commissioned by the Hartlepool LSCB. | Two serious case reviews about the teenage girls were also commissioned by the Hartlepool LSCB. |
| It told how both girls were in care with a high level of contact with social services. But there was no evidence that they knew each other very well until a month before the murder, when they were accused of stealing another child’s mobile phone. | It told how both girls were in care with a high level of contact with social services. But there was no evidence that they knew each other very well until a month before the murder, when they were accused of stealing another child’s mobile phone. |
| The girls were given pseudonyms in the reports. “Olivia”, the 14-year-old, experienced early abuse and neglect and was placed into foster care due to concerns over her mother’s mental health and drug and alcohol use. | The girls were given pseudonyms in the reports. “Olivia”, the 14-year-old, experienced early abuse and neglect and was placed into foster care due to concerns over her mother’s mental health and drug and alcohol use. |
| Although support was provided to her, the report found that it lacked an emphasis on poor parenting and poor family relationships. | Although support was provided to her, the report found that it lacked an emphasis on poor parenting and poor family relationships. |
| It also stated how as Olivia’s behaviour became more difficult and complex, professionals began to focus disproportionately on her rather than the poor quality care and supervision she received. | It also stated how as Olivia’s behaviour became more difficult and complex, professionals began to focus disproportionately on her rather than the poor quality care and supervision she received. |
| Yasmine, an only child, had support but her parents did not engage with services. She was 13 at the time of the murders, and was taken into care just six weeks beforehand, when her mother said she could not cope. At the same time, Olivia’s behaviour had deteriorated so badly that she assaulted three adults at her children’s home and was arrested, though the workers did not want to press charges. | Yasmine, an only child, had support but her parents did not engage with services. She was 13 at the time of the murders, and was taken into care just six weeks beforehand, when her mother said she could not cope. At the same time, Olivia’s behaviour had deteriorated so badly that she assaulted three adults at her children’s home and was arrested, though the workers did not want to press charges. |
| Dave Pickard, the chair of Hartlepool LSCB, said the reports showed the murders “were not predictable and therefore weren’t preventable”. | Dave Pickard, the chair of Hartlepool LSCB, said the reports showed the murders “were not predictable and therefore weren’t preventable”. |
| Insisting lessons would be learned, he said: “Neither young person had a criminal history of any significant assaults on any other individuals. Their behaviour was troublesome and anti-social before the night in question but there was not suggestion whatsoever of any serious violence: it was a total shock to everyone.” | Insisting lessons would be learned, he said: “Neither young person had a criminal history of any significant assaults on any other individuals. Their behaviour was troublesome and anti-social before the night in question but there was not suggestion whatsoever of any serious violence: it was a total shock to everyone.” |
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