A social worker requested a 'threat to life order' for the Pearson family roughly a month before Michelle Pearson and four of her children died in a firebomb attack, an inquest has heard.
Demi, 14; Brandon, eight; Lacie, seven; and Lia, three were killed after petrol bombs were thrown at their home on Jackson Street, Walkden, Salford, in the early hours of December 11, 2017. Michelle Pearson, who was also inside at the time, died aged 37 almost two years later after suffering severe burns. A joint inquest into their deaths is ongoing at Bolton Coroners' Court.
Social worker's evidence
Sharon Oldham, appointed as the family's social worker in August 2017, gave evidence on Monday (October 19). She said Kyle Pearson, another son of Ms Pearson's, and Demi were on a 'young person's plan', with minutes of a meeting held on November 17 referenced in court.
The inquest heard Kyle was referenced in a form stating he had '£1,000 on his head' and was 'at risk from a local gang', said to be Salford's A-Team. Demi also reported having been 'chased'.
Last week, the court heard Ms Pearson told police she believed gang members had driven by her home a month before the attack, but Greater Manchester Police said no intelligence was logged as there was 'no evidence to substantiate' her fears.
Request for threat order
The inquest heard it was agreed a 'strategy meeting' would be held, and Mrs Oldham agreed it should be on 'an urgent basis' with an 'action plan' for the whole family. However, she said the meeting wasn't arranged, didn't know why, and contacted GMP's 'Operation Gulf' team three days later to voice concerns.
Mrs Oldham said she spoke to a male officer, told him about Kyle, and asked for a 'threat to life' order. She was told Kyle had 'no links' to the A-Team and the risk was not evidentially there. She said she 'wanted a threat to life' order 'put on', thinking the assessment might change so the family could be moved.
"I believed, at that time, a full threat to life order should have been made and the family should have been moved to protect their safety," she said.
Police response and aftermath
Mrs Oldham relayed the police's assessment to her manager, and a decision that a strategy meeting 'was not necessary' was made. She said she still believed there was a risk but was 'being guided by the police'. Ms Pearson was 'convinced' Kyle was not 'involved with the A-Team' and wanted to remain near her sister.
Windows of the home were later smashed and a wheelie bin set alight before the fatal fire, with a prior threat to petrol-bomb the property. The inquest previously heard a 'tit-for-tat feud' ended when the house was petrol-bombed by Zak Bolland and David Worrall. In 2018, both were given four life sentences with minimum terms of 40 and 37 years respectively; Bolland's then girlfriend, Courtney Brierley, was jailed for 21 years for four counts of manslaughter.
Mrs Oldham said she was 'really firm' with Ms Pearson about asking for a new home, but was told she 'did not qualify for an emergency move'. A police 'marker' was placed on the property, and the fire service carried out a risk assessment. Asked by Fiona Barton KC, for GMP, whether she was 'surprised' to learn there was no such thing as a 'threat to life order', Mrs Oldham replied 'no', saying it was language used 'within children's services'. She said she got the 'notion' that a police order was required for a housing move 'from experience'. Ms Barton KC said police initiated contact twice with social services asking for a house move for the family.
