Three Jailed For 'Bullying Man To Death'

Three people, including a 17-year-old girl, have been jailed for torturing a man with severe learning disabilities before forcing him to his death from a 100ft railway viaduct.

Steven Hoskin, 38, from St Austell in Cornwall, was forced to hang from railings at the viaduct after being tortured.

Sarah Bullock, who was 16 at the time, stamped on his hands until Mr Hoskin eventually fell to his death. She was jailed for ten years for murder.

Her boyfriend, Darren Stewart, 30, was jailed for 25 years for murder, while Martin Pollard, who was also there when Mr Hoskin fell, was sentenced to eight years for manslaughter.

All three, who are also from St Austell, had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, while Pollard and Stewart pleaded guilty to false imprisonment. Bullock was also convicted of this charge.

At sentencing at Truro Crown Court on Monday, Mr Justice Owens lifted an anonymity order on Bullock, which had prevented her from being identified. He described Mr Hoskin's murder as "most horrific" and said that he had been subjected to "sustained physical and mental attack in which he was violently assaulted, degraded and humiliated."

The judge also criticised social services for not protecting Mr Hoskin as it emerged that the Bullock, Pollard and Stewart had lived in his flat for 15 months without their knowledge.

A multi-agency review into the case is to be carried out.

Two 17-year-old youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were also convicted of assault and false imprisonment in connection with the case on Friday. Their case has been adjourned for pre-sentencing reports.

(KMcA/SP)