Suicide couple were 'terrorised'
Updated on 26 October 2007
The mother and daughter who died in a car blaze this week had been terrorised by local youths, it has emerged.
"A wonderful person - the best - who always put her children first." A friend's tribute to 38 year old Fiona Pilkington, who killed herself and her disabled daughter Francesca, by setting fire to their car.
Today a harrowing story emerged of how local youths had terrorised them, throwing stones and eggs at their home, banging on their door, and calling them names.
Neighbours in Barwell, in Leicestershire, say Ms Pilkington told the police. But nothing changed - and she could take no more.
'Stones were thrown at the windows and the house kept getting egged... She used to get annoyed so she would not let any of the kids out.'Barwell resident
One nearby resident, who did not wish to be named, today described how groups of teenagers "go around vandalising things, kicking cars and being a nuisance." The sound of glass could be heard nearly every night.
Another neighbour said that youngsters often bullied Ms Pilkington and her family. She said, "Stones were thrown at the windows and the house kept getting egged... She used to get annoyed so she would not let any of the kids out."
A police spokeswoman has confirmed that three people had been arrested and one charged this week in connection with anti-social behaviour in the area, but she stressed that there was no connection with the investigation into the deaths of Ms Pilkington and her daughter.
