Fireball mother who 'killed herself and disabled daughter had been victim of yobs'
A mother who apparently murdered her disabled daughter and killed herself by setting fire to their car had been repeatedly bullied by local yobs prior to her death, it was revealed today.
The bodies of 38-year-old Fiona Ann Pilkington and her 18-year-old daughter Francesca Hardwick, were discovered in the burning vehicle outside Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, late on Tuesday night.
Leicestershire Constabulary today confirmed that anti-social behaviour was a problem near their home, on Bardon Road in nearby Barwell, and that the family had reported several incidents to police.
Fiona and her daughter burned to death when the Nissan Micra was engulfed by flames after apparently being soaked in petrol and set alight.
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Tragic: Fiona Ann Pilkington, 38 (right), is thought to have killed herself and her 18-year-old disabled daughter Francesca Hardwick by setting light to their car
The pair, of Bardon Road in nearby Barwell, were found dead after police received a report that a car was on fire in a lay-by off the A47.
Neighbours and friends told the Daily Telegraph that kids would throw stones at the family's windows and call them names.
Friend Ann Jones described how Ms Pilkington had dedicated her life to looking after her daughter.
She said: "Fiona got so much abuse from some of the kids around here. She had a lot of problems with them.
"They would throw stones at her windows, bang on the door, shout and call them names."
"She was one of the best. She was always laughing and joking.
"I saw her on Tuesday night and she seemed fine. But having to look after Frankie all the time was very difficult."
When asked if detectives were investigating if Ms Pilkington had been bullied by youngsters in the area, the force spokeswoman said: "We are investigating all lines of inquiry into their deaths".
She added: "The circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter Francesca Hardwick are still being investigated and will be subject to a coroner's inquest.
"It would therefore be inappropriate to comment in any more detail."
Francesca, who was known to her family as Frankie, suffered from severe learning difficulties.
Post mortem examinations carried out yesterday confirmed detectives' beliefs that no-one else was involved in their deaths, said Leicestershire Police.
Detective Superintendent Chris Thomas said: "Following the results of yesterday's scene examination and the post mortems we are satisfied that we do not need to look for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
"Our beliefs that this incident was a tragic case of murder and suicide have been borne out by the initial results but the ultimate decision clearly remains a matter for the coroner.
"The loss of loved ones in these circumstances is extremely distressing and our thoughts are with Fiona and Francesca's family at this time."
The fire was so ferocious that detectives had to rely on DNA tests to establish who they were, but relatives were traced yesterday through identification of the car.
In a statement issued through police, Francesca's grandmother, who does not want to be named, said: "As a family we are completely devastated by our loss.
"We are struggling to come to terms with what has happened and would like to be left alone to grieve in private for Fiona and Frankie."
A file containing the results of the police investigation will now be prepared for the coroner.
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The bodies of Fiona Ann Pilkington and her daughter Francesca Hardwick are removed from their burnt out Micra
Yesterday the truck driver who alerted police told how he woke to see a wall of fire after the car slowly rolled along a remote lay-by and hit his vehicle.
Stewart Bell, 57, said: "The car was completely engulfed by the fire. There was no way anyone could have survived."
The Micra had pulled into the lay-by off the A47 near Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, at 11.15pm on Tuesday.
It is believed Ms Pilkington may have chosen the lay-by as it is shielded from the road by trees and probably appeared completely empty. But once her car was on fire it rolled down an incline and hit Mr Bell's lorry.
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Wrecked: The Nissan Micra is moved from the scene
He added: "Because you're worried about thieves, you always sleep in the truck with one eye open, so the bump woke me up straight away.
"I opened my eyes and just saw a big sheet of flame shooting up the windscreen.
"I got out of my sleeping bag as quickly as possible and jumped into the driver's seat, because I thought someone had set fire to my wagon.
"But when I got into the seat I realised there was a car in front of me.
"It was a total inferno, so I just slammed the wagon into reverse."
Mr Bell, a lorry driver for 33 years, added: "I moved back about 20 yards before I dialled 999. There was nothing else I could do."
"I was told she might actually have tried this kind of thing before and that they found a petrol can between the two front seats.
"They seem to think she pulled into the lay-by, splashed petrol about and lit it, but they don't know if the engine was still running at the time."
Detective Superintendent Chris Thomas said: "It was quite a horrific scene that faced the fire service when they arrived."
Fireball mother who 'killed herself and disabled daughter had been victim of yobs' | the Daily Mail
Mother 'killed herself and disabled daughter' in car
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