Mother of Angela Wrightson murderer claims authorities should have stopped teen from killing

Angela Wrightson, who was brutally killed by two teenagers

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke out in an interview with Tyne Tees and also offered an apology to Miss Wrightson’s parents.

The girl was 13 when she and a 14 year old girl, who was also in care, battered Angela to death at her home in Hartlepool in December 2014.

Flowers outside the home of Angela Wrightson

A number of reviews have been launched to find out if social services and other authorities missed opportunities to intervene.

Hartlepool Borough Council told ITV News those reviews will consider concerns raised by the younger girl’s mother.

In April, the girl, both aged 15, were convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years detention.

In the interview, the younger girl’s mother said her daughter had a normal family life, and no diagnosed conditions that would explain her behaviour.

A Snapchat image that was sent by one of the girls after Angela Wrightson was beaten to death

She says she started running into trouble and going missing from home and claimed social services in Hartlepool did not take her daughter’s case seriously enough.

She said: “I asked them to put my daughter in a safe place because she was running and missing from home all the time. I literally had to beg them for the foster placement.

“We really wanted her out of the town, out of the bad company she was with, and her phone taken off her.

“That’s why I really wanted her in a secure place, where she knew if she’d done wrong, she wouldn’t be able to run away from there, until she settled her behaviour down. I just wish they could have done more to help my daughter”.

The mother refused to take responsibility, as a parent, for what her daughter did.

She said: “She makes her own choices in life. I tried my best. I couldn’t be watching her 24 hours a day. I just feel like they didn’t give me enough help.”

The woman also said she could not understand how her daughter could act in such a brutal manner.

She said: “She was always a lovely girl. It’s just, since she got older.

She then offered an apology to Angela Wrightson’s parents

She said: “I’d just like to say, I’m sorry this has happened to their daughter. I don’t know why my daughter got involved. I keep asking myself why. I don’t know why.”

A statement from Hartlepool Borough Council, to Tyne Tees said: “Angela Wrightson’s death has touched the hearts of many people in the Hartlepool community and our thoughts remain with all who have been affected by this tragedy.

“Independent multi-agency reviews are currently being undertaken following the murder of Angela Wrightson. These reviews are being led by Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board and Hartlepool Safeguarding Children Board.

The Council, along with all other agencies involved in this case, is participating fully in this process which will involve national experts to help determine whether any lessons can be learnt. The mother can be assured that her concerns will be raised as part of the review process.

“It would not be appropriate for the Council to comment further on any aspect of the cases until the reviews are concluded.”