Man With Learning Difficulties Failed By The Care System

A vulnerable man with learning difficulties who was brutally tortured and murdered by bullies was failed by all the agencies charged with his care, a review of his case has said.

Steven Hoskin, who endured hours of torture and was drugged before being taken to the top of St Austell viaduct and bullied until he fell 100ft to his death, was failed by “every part of the service system”, the review found.

The report also revealed that the authorities missed more than 40 chances to intervene in his case – action which could have saved him from abuse.

Mr Hoskin was murdered on July 6, 2006 when he was bullied off a viaduct by drug dealer Darren Stewart, Sarah Bullock and Martin Pollard.

Mr Hoskin, 39, who was considered to be “very vulnerable” and having “a substantial need” by care services, had suffered hours of violent abuse before he was killed.

In the lead up to his death, his three tormentors kept Mr Hoskin a prisoner in his own flat in St Austell, stubbed out cigarettes on him and forced him to wear the collar of his beloved dog.

The independent report, which was released yesterday, revealed a catalogue of missed opportunities to trigger an action plan that should have prompted action from the authorities. Charities have condemned the lack of communication that led to Mr Hoskin’s death and expressed grave concern over how many other people with learning disabilities may be at risk.

Yesterday in Truro independent adult care expert Dr Margaret Flynn, principal researcher at the centre for health and social care research at Sheffield Hallam University, revealed the findings of a Serious Case Review into the murder of Mr Hoskin launched by Cornwall’s Adult Protection Committee. Dr Flynn said: “With better inter-agency working, Steven Hoskin would have been spared the destructive impacts of unrestrained physical, financial and emotional abuse in his own home.”

The report shows that both Mr Hoskin and his killer, Darren Stewart, regularly called emergency services, and police knew that Stewart was dealing drugs from the flat eight months before Mr Hoskin’s death.

It also revealed that Mr Hoskin made 12 calls to the police for various matters, including threats to him, from when he cancelled his care to a month before he died.

Cornwall Partnership Trust knew that Stewart had a personality disorder and the county council’s department of young people, children and families described Stewart as “very dangerous”.

In November 2005 Mr Hoskin’s landlord, Ocean Housing, received an anonymous call from a man concerned that his daughter was frequenting Mr Hoskin’s flat at Blowinghouse Close and returning home under the influence of drugs.

Sarah Bullock’s step-father repeatedly contacted the police to express concern about his 15-year-old step-daughter spending time at the flat.

Dr Flynn said: “What is striking about the responses of services to Steven’s circumstances is that each agency focused on single issues within their own sectional remits and did not make the connections deemed necessary for the protection of vulnerable adults.”

The agencies involved in the serious case review were Devon and Cornwall Police, Cornwall County Council, the Primary Care Trust for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and Ocean Housing.

Mr Hoskin’s family home was in the hamlet of Maudlin, near Bodmin. He spent most of his youth in the village of Sweetshouse, a mile up the road, where he was well known as a “sweet-natured” man.

Mr Hoskin lived with his mother, who also has learning difficulties, until September 2003. But their relationship worsened and he moved out. After living in bed and breakfast accommodation in Newquay he moved to Blowinghouse Close in April 2005. In August 2005 Mr Hoskin cancelled his community care support with Cornwall County Council and a risk assessment was not carried out.

Dr Flynn said: “At every stage following Steven’s departure from his family home, from the comparative safety of his rural community, to Newquay and then to St Austell, all serious case review contributors could have been potential rescuers. But every part of the service system had significant failures in this role.

“The fact that individuals in all agencies knew that Steven was a vulnerable adult did not prevent his torture and murder.”

Dr Flynn’s report makes 17 recommendations to the Adult Protection Committee which include improving community safety with multi-agency conferences, improved information sharing, raising the understanding within local communities about vulnerable adults and restoring public confidence. Sheila Healy, chief executive of Cornwall County Council, said: “This was a terrible case of murder and our sympathies go out to his family. We have a commitment to ensure that Steven’s lasting legacy is action to minimise the possibility of this happening again.”

Mencap’s head of campaigns and policy, David Congdon, said later: “It is deeply shocking that so many agencies responsible for the safety and well-being of Steven Hoskin neglected to fulfil their duty of care.

“His tragic death highlights the need for long-term support for people with a learning disability based on individual needs. More and better inter-agency working is essential so that a tragedy such as this never happens again.”