Disability hate crime in Cornwall

While the motives for the recent murder of Mary Fox in Bodmin, Cornwall, are not yet known, it is fairly clear that her son Raum Fox has been a victim of hate crime in the past.

According to The Times, Raum had been bullied at Bodmin College about his acne and reported learning difficulties. He recently moved to St Austell College to escape the bullying.

As with the Fiona Pilkington case, there are reports of local youths being vicious.

Kerry Ollerenshaw, a 36-year-old care worker and friend, told The Times: "The kids on this estate can be very harsh. They hang around in groups, harassing and intimidating and Raum was a victim of that", while Gary Breslin told the Daily Mirror: "They have caused trouble round here, criminal damage and stuff like that. And I know that Mary's boy was being bullied."

Social networking sites are now being examined by police to discover who put the firework through the Foxs' door.

Three teenagers aged between 12 and 16 were spotted chanting "shame, shame, shame" as the Foxs tried to escape, according to the Sunday Express.

Superintendent Martin Orpe told a meeting: ""To suggest that earlier press reports regarding the systematic intimidation or bullying of either of them was a cause of this incident is purely speculation and is unfounded at this time."

Devon and Cornwall police claim that no complaints of harassment were made by the Foxs.

Outrage was expressed in the media and by politicians when the news that Fiona Pilkington had killed herself and her daughter to escape abuse and intimidation from local thugs was first reported.

Has anything really changed? Has popular culture become less intolerant of those who are different? Are those committing the abuse being punished harshly? Are we tough enough on yobs who destroy communities?

Given that one of the alleged principal tormentors of Fiona Pilkington, Alex Simmons, has only just received an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (hardly a harsh punishment), I do wonder.

According to the Leicester Mercury, Anthony Warner Thorne, of Bardon Road, Josh Warner Thorne, of the same address, and Billy Joe Kenney, 20, of Elwell Avenue, Barwell have also received Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.

As with Bardon, the Berryfields Estate, where Mary Fox lived, seems to be a dangerous place for anyone who is different. I hope that community leaders work to change this.

I also hope that Bodmin College does more to prevent bullying. No-one should be harassed because of a disability.

Anyone with information should call Devon and Cornwall Police on 08452 777 444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.