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| Gang torment woman 'sat in dark' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A woman who died inside her burning car with her disabled daughter would sit in the dark listening to the gang that tormented them, an inquest heard. | A woman who died inside her burning car with her disabled daughter would sit in the dark listening to the gang that tormented them, an inquest heard. |
| Fiona Pilkington, 38, of Barwell, Leicestershire, set fire to her car as she and Francesca Hardwick sat inside in October 2007. | Fiona Pilkington, 38, of Barwell, Leicestershire, set fire to her car as she and Francesca Hardwick sat inside in October 2007. |
| The single mother detailed her ordeal in a diary, found after her death. | |
| One entry read:"Drew the curtains and sat in the dark until 2.30am, stressed out." | |
| Despite police requests, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council had no record of the problems, the hearing was told. | Despite police requests, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council had no record of the problems, the hearing was told. |
| Council officer Tim Butterworth, who was responsible for dealing with anti social behaviour, said he had "no concerns" with the situation. | |
| The inquest, at Loughborough Town Hall, heard Ms Pilkington and her 18-year-old daughter, known as Frankie, suffered more than 10 years of abuse from the gang at their home in Bardon Road. | The inquest, at Loughborough Town Hall, heard Ms Pilkington and her 18-year-old daughter, known as Frankie, suffered more than 10 years of abuse from the gang at their home in Bardon Road. |
| In 2007, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council gave her a spreadsheet on which she could detail the abuse. | In 2007, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council gave her a spreadsheet on which she could detail the abuse. |
| In the entry for 10 May 2007, she said her son Anthony - now 19 - was pacing up and down the stairs of their home because he was stressed out by the noise from the youths outside. | In the entry for 10 May 2007, she said her son Anthony - now 19 - was pacing up and down the stairs of their home because he was stressed out by the noise from the youths outside. |
| The bodies were found in the burning car nearly two years ago | The bodies were found in the burning car nearly two years ago |
| Another entry, dated two days later, she detailed: "I drew the curtains and sat in the dark until 2.30am, stressed out." | Another entry, dated two days later, she detailed: "I drew the curtains and sat in the dark until 2.30am, stressed out." |
| The diary was never handed to the council by Ms Pilkington and only came to light after her home was searched following the deaths of her and her daughter. | The diary was never handed to the council by Ms Pilkington and only came to light after her home was searched following the deaths of her and her daughter. |
| A day after the early hours ordeal she penned: "I am cheesed off and fed up. Why can't they just walk past without doing anything? Why don't they walk on the other side of the street?" | |
| Ms Pilkington's last entry on 2 June 2 2007, said: "They went to number 57, lit a fag and then tried to set fire to fences between the houses." | |
| Reading the entries, Mr Butterworth was visibly perspiring. | |
| He said the council was still trying to deal with a family causing trouble on the street. | He said the council was still trying to deal with a family causing trouble on the street. |
| The inquest heard that despite requests from Leicestershire Police to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, the local authority was not aware the family were subjected to a campaign of bullying. | The inquest heard that despite requests from Leicestershire Police to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, the local authority was not aware the family were subjected to a campaign of bullying. |
| Mr Butterworth said: "I was unaware that the family had any difficulties at all. I was dealing with an incident of stone-throwing in isolation." | Mr Butterworth said: "I was unaware that the family had any difficulties at all. I was dealing with an incident of stone-throwing in isolation." |
| To this, coroner Olivia Davison put it to him: "Does it not concern you as to why this is occurring to the family?" | To this, coroner Olivia Davison put it to him: "Does it not concern you as to why this is occurring to the family?" |
| Mr Butterworth replied: "No, I had no concerns with the family's situation." | Mr Butterworth replied: "No, I had no concerns with the family's situation." |
| No records | No records |
| Earlier Ms Davison, assistant deputy coroner for Leicestershire and Rutland, asked whether Mr Butterworth remembered a meeting with a police officer. | Earlier Ms Davison, assistant deputy coroner for Leicestershire and Rutland, asked whether Mr Butterworth remembered a meeting with a police officer. |
| She said: "The police officer wanted an anti-social behaviour order and as the best course of action to issue an anti-social behaviour warning. | She said: "The police officer wanted an anti-social behaviour order and as the best course of action to issue an anti-social behaviour warning. |
| "He appears to want action from the council and he appears to want you to take action. Do you remember this?" | "He appears to want action from the council and he appears to want you to take action. Do you remember this?" |
| Mr Butterworth replied: "I don't think we have that statement anywhere." | Mr Butterworth replied: "I don't think we have that statement anywhere." |
| The inquest also heard the council failed to keep records going back further than two years. | The inquest also heard the council failed to keep records going back further than two years. |
| The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |