Suspected sex offender fell to his death 'as he fled baying vigilante gang'

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 07:33 EDT, 8 January 2009

Scott Campbell plunged 50 feet to his death

A suspected sex offender fell 50 feet to his death from an apartment block as he fled a baying vigilante gang, a court heard today.

Terrified Scott Campbell, 44, made a run for it when three men and two women turned up at his second floor flat to give him a revenge beating over claims he had sexually assaulted a 13 year-old-boy, it was alleged.

As one of the armed gang started banging on his front door shouting: 'I'm going to f***ing kill you' Campbell climbed over his balcony in a bid to escape.

But as he did so he lost his grip on the rail and plumetted to the ground. The Glaswegian suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead in Royal Bolton hospital in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Manchester Crown Court was told during the incident CCTV captured one of the women hiding a baseball bat up the back of her coat, whilst her husband was carrying a hammer.

Another woman was carrying a spanner or wrench and a fourth man was carrying a bike chain. The four tried to hide their faces to avoid being recognised.

Jamie Watson, 32, his wife Sarah Watson, 32, Katia Briercliffe, 36, Paul McCarthy, 36 and Martin McMulkin, 37 all deny manslaughter.

The tragedy occurred at 7.20pm in July last year after the 13 year-old-boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been Campbell's second floor flat in Blackshaw Lane, Deane, Bolton.

The scene where Scott Campbell fell from a second floor balcony

He came out 20 minutes later and told two friends he had been indecently assaulted.

The allegations spread around the Deane area of Bolton, Greater Manchester and locals were seen gathering around the block of flats.

Sarah and Jamie Watson were seen entering the flats with Katia Briercliffe, and the 13 year-old-boy and being joined in the lift by McMulkin and McCarthy - who also lived at the flats.

The boy was seen on the building's CCTV footage pointing out the flat he had been in, before leaving Fernstead House.

CCTV showed Sarah Watson hiding a baseball bat up the back of her coat, Jamie Watson carrying a hammer, Katia Briercliffe carrying a spanner or wrench and Martin McMulkin carrying a bike chain.

Prosecuting Mr Peter Cadwallader said the jury may have some sympathy for the defendants given the allegations made towards the victim.

But he said: 'However justified there position it cannot be acceptable for a vigilante group to start taking the law into their own hands and that is the simple issue in this case because that is what happened.

A police tent marks the spot where he fell

'A large group of young people of a similar age to the boy also gathered in the vicinity of the deceased flat.

'They didn't take part in the subsequent events although their presence did increase the hostile atmosphere that existed at the time.

'Attempts were made by the individuals to cover and hide their features which the crown say was indicative of what they intended.

'The crown allege that the defendants as a group were armed and all of them save for McMulkin made efforts to hide their faces.

'The only sensible conclusion we suggest that we draw is that they indented to give the defendant a beating. That they intended to assault him.

'In interview Katia said that she and Sarah Watson went into the small vestibule outside the flat. She said that Sarah Watson had called out in a calm voice "Jimmy".

'The males remained outside the vestibule she said. Scott Campbell did open his door but he was too quick and managed to close it before the defendants could force their way in.

'Once Scott had closed the door there was an attack on it with weapons. It was struck. The glass was broke. There was banging and noise and it was so great that it was heard by neighbours.

'One neighbour was listening to a tennis match on TV but he could still hear the attack. He heard a female voice shouting "I'm going to f***ing get you" or "I'm going to f***ing kill you" - he wasn't quite sure.

'The crown say that the defendants were trying to force the door. They were a large group. They were armed. They were damaging the door and attacking it.

'Although you may have little sympathy for Scott Campbell, it must have been a frightening experience and he must have been fearful of what was going to happen if they gained entry.

'Whatever the sympathies are at that stage the defendants, we say, were all acting entirely unlawfully in trying to take the law into their own hands and act as a vigilante group.

'It is not acceptable for defendants to take the law into their own hands. It is apparent from the CCTV footage that whilst the deceased felt under attack he went onto the balcony with the intention to lower himself down.

'It is equally clear that he lost his grip in trying to climb down and he fell and died as a result of injuries he sustained in the fall.

'The inference that can be drawn is that Scott Campbell was in fear as a result of the defendants attempt to break into his flat. He must have known that he faced a beating at least.

'There was no other way out of the flat other than through the front door or by the balcony.

'Therefore it is our case that in trying to escape the unlawful conduct of the defendants he fell to his death.

'It was only after Sarah Watson had left the flats that she called the police about the conduct of the deceased.

'The crown say that this was a vigilante group seeking revenge, seeking to gain entry to the deceased flat to cause him harm. He attempted to escape as a result of that unlawful conduct and in doing so he fell to his death.' 

Jamie Watson, 32, Sarah Watson, 32, both of Hibernia Street; Katia Briercliffe, 36, Briercliffe Road; Paul McCarthy, 36 of Fernstead, Blackshaw Lane and Martin McMulkin, 37 of no fixed address all deny manslaughter.

The trial continues.

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