'We could not prevent vulnerable grandfather's murder', says council

6:00pm Thursday 14th January 2010

By Guardian Reporter

Social workers were powerless to help a grandfather beaten to death by his grandsons - because he repeatedly refused to turn them over to the police.

Staff from Wandsworth’s social services department begged Paul Peters to move house or press charges against Wayne Edwards and Anton Sanderson, but he refused.

Edwards, 34, of Battersea, and Sanderson, 25, of Edmonton, today both received life sentences for murder and were ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years each behind bars.

Mr Peters had been flagged up as being ‘at risk’ from physical, financial and psychological abuse from Edwards and Sanderson.

But Wandsworth Council today said it did everything in its power to protect him – and claimed there was nothing more social services could have done to prevent his death.

A spokesman said: “We have undertaken a detailed and exhaustive review of all our actions and procedures in this case and have concluded that there was little or nothing more that we could have done that might have had the slightest chance of preventing this tragedy.

“Mr Peters had full mental capacity and was fully aware of the risks he faced from his grandsons but he steadfastly refused to accept any help from us that would have minimised these risks.”

Ultimately, it was Mr Peters’ kindness and generosity that led to his violent end, as he was unable to refuse his grandsons’ demands.

The spokesman added: “On numerous occasions we offered to re-house him away from his grandsons, but he would not move.

“Our social workers begged him repeatedly to press charges against these men, so that either we or the police could take legal action against them, but he always said no.

“A week before he died he finally agreed to let us change his front door locks to keep his grandsons out of his flat - but the very next day he gave them the new keys.

“We put a huge amount of effort into trying to keep Mr Peters safe from harm, but he was simply not willing to accept our help and advice and no legal powers exist that we could have used to make him.

“We were of course all greatly saddened to learn of his death, especially those staff members who had got to know him well and had worked so hard to try and protect him.

“The sad fact is that he was ultimately unable to say 'no' to his grandsons who repeatedly took advantage of his kind and generous nature.”

• Could anything more have been done to protect Paul Peters? Tell us what yo think by calling the newsroom on 020 8330 9537 or email: newsdesk@wandsworthguardian.co.uk