A
schoolboy was found dead in his bedroom just days before he was due to give
evidence at the trial of a man who attacked him.
Tom Acton, 16, died after being falsely accused of raping a
girl after tying her to a tree when he stood up against the criminal activity
in his neighbourhood of Poynton, Cheshire.
He was attacked in the street, targeted on Facebook and
angry youths turned up at his house following the lies spread about him
Death: Tom Acton (left), 16, gave information to police
about people dealing drugs to youngsters. Days after his death he was due to
testify in court against one of his tormentors, 18-year-old Thomas Greenwood
(right)
For his own safety he went to live with his grandmother but
upon his return he was beaten up by a teenager who told him 'you are dead'.
Days after his death on October 31 Tom was due to testify in
court against one of his tormentors.
A judge lifted reporting restrictions preventing the naming
of Thomas Greenwood, 18, who appeared at youth court for attacking Tom.
His 45-year-old mother, Gaynor, has criticised authorities
for failing to act to protect her son and accused them of turning a blind eye.
She
said: 'The first time I knew about it was when I had to peel Tom off the floor
after he had his head smashed against the wall. The rumour went all over the
place and on Facebook and Tom went to live with his gran in Wales for a bit.
'Straightaway I called the school and police but they said
there was nothing they could do about it. They said it was just a rumour and
that Facebook is their bane.
'Tom became a recluse in his own house. It was horrific. He
was screaming and crying asking why were they doing it.'
She also described how he would have to be dropped off at
school even though it was just a 10-minute walk and how a gang of 30 came to
the door saying they wanted 'to get rid of the vermin'.
Speaking
at a parish council meeting, she said: 'My son Tom died in tragic circumstances
at home. What you won't know is that he had given information to police about
drug dealers in Poynton.
'He was bullied, pressured and then threatened. Poynton was
not a safe place for Tom. We tried to take the issue to the authorities but
were not taken seriously. I came to the council in April for help and you did
nothing.'
Crewe Magistrates' Court heard that Tom was attacked outside
his home by Greenwood in June. His statement was read to the court in which he
described how Greenwood held what he thought was a knife to his throat.
It said: 'He threatened to break my nose and said: "If
I see you, you are dead". I screamed for my life and I saw him just
staring me out. I thought my life was going to end.'
He added that the bullying campaign by Greenwood's friends
then increased. 'He started rumours that I'd raped girls', he said. 'It boils
down to the fact that I got on better with girls and he didn't like it.
'There were rumours that I had tied a girl to a tree, raped
her and took pictures. As you can imagine I can no longer walk down the street
as everyone calls me a rapist.
'I felt so scared for my life I wanted to break down and
cry. I was scared to go out of the house. I wish I wasn't here. No one has the
right or authority to assault me, cause me harm.
'I
suffered no physical injury just redness it is more of a mental injury caused.'
Greenwood was convicted of assault but cleared of possessing a bladed article
and will be sentenced at a later date.
A text conversation between him and a girl read: 'I have
been after him for ages. I pulled up in the car got out, banged his head
against the wall and then hit him in the face a few times.'
In court he denied making death threats and claimed not to
know about the false rape allegations.
Yesterday, Mrs Acton said: 'I want people suffering what Tom
suffered to have the confidence to speak out.
Local area: Tests are being conducted to establish his cause
of death but there are no suspicious circumstances
'Ours is a middle-class area and is supposed to be safer
than safe yet I believe that means the community is too frightened to speak out
when something goes wrong.
'It's not the image those in authority in Poynton want to
portray. When Tom died we had over 200 cards with everyone saying what a good
friend he was and how he would help everyone - but no one was there to help him
in his darkest hours.
'He would always fight and had a strong sense of justice,
and if somebody was being bullied he would always be the first one there to
help them. But at the time he was very worried about the trial of Thomas
Greenwood and he said it would be the end of him.
'He was very apprehensive about going to court and
frightened that he might be threatened. If he did see the bullies they would
make gestures across the neck.
'They were like a pack of wolves hounding a wounded animal.
Tom was very brave, he was even an organ donor at the age of eight after he had
seen a donor card in mine and his dad's wallets.
'I didn't know until he was dying that he had signed up when
he was eight and signed up again when he was 16. Little did we know six months
later he would be giving them away.'
Cheshire Constabulary Inspector Steve Griffiths told
MailOnline: ‘We would like to take the opportunity to offer our condolences to
the family following the tragic death of Tom.
‘Macclesfield Police works closely with the school and the
local council with information given about drugs being considered and acted on
if appropriate. As a result of information received regarding drug dealing we
had launched an investigation which is currently ongoing.
‘An allegation of assault was also made by Tom in relation
to a separate issue not related to drugs and this resulted in an 18-year-being
charged and he is currently going through the court process so it would not be
appropriate to comment further at this stage.
‘Cheshire Police takes illegal drug activity seriously and
this is reflected in on-going investigations such as Operation Dizi which has
seen a large number of drug dealers from the Macclesfield area brought to
justice.
'I can no longer walk down the street as everyone calls me a
rapist. I felt so scared for my life I wanted to break down and cry. I was
scared to go out of the house'
Tom Acton
‘This operation continues and could not be carried out
without the help of the public who give us information about drug activity in
their community. Anyone who gives information to police regarding any crime and
feels they are being threatened are dealt with sensitively and there are
procedures in place to advise and protect them.
‘An application by the investigating officer had been made
for special measures to support mum and Tom in relation to the assault
investigation.’
Tests are being conducted to establish a cause of death, but
there are no suspicious circumstances.
David Waugh, headmaster at the mixed comprehensive Poynton
High School, said: 'We have been stunned by the loss of a member of our
community and continue to express our deepest sympathy.
'We continue to provide the highest of educational standards
in every aspect of our school life, within a framework of outstanding care,
guidance and support.
'It would not be appropriate to comment directly on any of
the issues raised while various reviews and legal processes are being
followed.'
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