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Family’s tribute to their tragic ‘little soldier’
Reporter: RICHARD HOOTON
Date online: 24 September 2009
THE family of a man who died after crashing a car in Oldham on his birthday have paid tribute to their “little soldier.”
Matthew Fricker, of Clarence Street, Heyside, suffered fatal injures in the smash in Oldham Road, Denshaw, in the early hours of his 20th birthday on Saturday. He died two days later.
Devastated parents Paul and Tania paid tribute saying: “Matthew has tragically been taken from us. He was a brother to Ellesse Danielle Margaret, grandson to Elizabeth, dear nephew to Michael and boyfriend to Jessica-Jayne.
“You were loved and brought up at our side, with all our friends and all your own friends.
“Everyone has shed tears of sadness and you will be greatly missed.
“You lit up a room, there wasn’t a bad bone in your body. You were brought up with love and knew how to share love.”
They thanked the ambulance service, fire service and hospital staff for all their efforts to save Matthew.
Two passengers had to be cut free after the Nissan Micra flipped on to its side and smashed into a lamp post during a police pursuit.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of burglary and has been bailed pending further inquiries.
A 17-year-old boy remains in hospital with a broken leg.
A traffic officer on routine patrol spotted the stolen car in Ripponden Road, Denshaw, at about 2.10am.
It did a U-turn, sped off and crashed opposite the Printer’s Arms car park.
The traffic officer was relieved from driving duties in line with police policy but has now had the driving suspension lifted.
GMP’s Professional Standards Branch is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. Mr Fricker was known to police after being given a three-year ASBO in 2005 after riding his bike into shops, knocking over displays and running into people.
In 2006, he was given a 12-month detention and training order after he broke into a house.
Judge Craig Osborne slammed the way he had been dealt with by Oldham Magistrates who had let him off eight times with absolute discharges or supervision orders for breaching his ASBO.
His criminal record included theft, shoplifting and motor vehicle offences.
*Any witnesses are asked to contact police on 0161-872 5050.
Comments
there wasnt a bad bone in his body eh??!! so how come he had an ASBO for terrosing the people of shaw?? how come he was in court on NUMEROUS occasions for breach of said ASBO and how come he was driving a STOLEN CAR!!
"there wasn’t a bad bone in your body"....Erm is it me or have the family forgotten something here? He was known to police, his criminal record included theft, shoplifting, motor vehicle offences and breaching his ASBO
he did wrong, was punished and sent away like many of them. The judges are locking them up when what should be doing is treating these young lads' addictions to car crimes. Why the article in paper about asbo - i think so cruel his family have lost their loving son Fricker, you will be missed by all that knew you, you'll never be forgotten, goodnite godbless you true soldier to all ya mates
adella. How about the parents bring them up properly in the first place? Then perhaps instead of dieing in a car crash of his own making he could be enhancing peoples lives in a meaningful way through work.
"little soldier" eh? I think you'll find REAL heroes are out in Afghanistam and not joy-riding around Oldham.
little soldier??????????? an adult who has stolen a car for a laugh and paid the ultimate price. Sad for the families loss but Adella real soldiers have self discipline and work hard. If he hadnt stolen the car the asbo wouldnt be being mentioned every other young driver pays for incidents like this.
a TRUE SOLDIER!! I think not, little throught to our sevice men and women
Crass reporting from the 'Chron. This article should never have been published.
The family will obviously mourn and be of that sentiment. The truth is, one more hooligan gone from the streets and good fortune that no innocent bystander was killed or injured.
while its sad that a young life is over, you must question the parents here, this wasnt a child he was 20, he knew better, but given his record i think the parents are way off the mark. As for the soldier comment, an insult to our serving troops that i'm afraid
Not a bad bone in his body? A little soldier? Please!
While I feel for the family's loss the fact of the matter is these lads had no regard for the owner of the car they stole or innocent people who might have been killed or injured by their selfish and reckless actions. The loss of a young life is always a tragedy, hopefully it will make others think, but I doubt it.
Sorry, this my seem heartless but why should he be praised and called a "little soldier" his parents want to get their priorities straight and acknowledge that fact that if he was behaving this would not have happened. People are dying in wars they are the ones to be praised.
Truly sickening, not even an apology to the victims, and from the tenor of it all the family don't even seem to recgnise or accept that he had been and was doing something wrong.
No wonder he turned out the way he did with parents like that
This should have never been published,it is an insult to all those soldiers fighting in Afghanistan. He chose his own path and paid the price.
The article was obviously intended to create a debate! I know parents are supposed to love their offspring whatever they do,but not a bad bone in his body???I wonder if all the victims of his thefts and other anti-social behaviour agree.
What an insult when one without the slightest respect for for the people of Oldham is refered to as 'Little Soldier' This yob should have been dealt with more rigourously by the courts. If that had happened then there is a possiblity that he would be here today.
ive seen all comments and i have my say now how ya can dare blame his parents how he brought up no rite to blame them so publicly and at this time when they are grieving hasnt anyone got an heart in oldham like isaid earlier if all the judges youth offending team also gave the youths h elp they needed to stop thievin cars joyriding its an addiction but all they do is lock them up time and time again the officer who was givin chase why isnt he bein punished causing fricker to die
What about the car owner? probably weeks before their insurance pay out,premiums go up .Who gives "joyrider" the right to take other peoples property...
Having read the comments on here already, I cannot really add anything further because people have already commented on what I would say.
However, I wonder how the parents would feel if their other child had her taken from them because she had been hit, and tragically killed by a joy-rider in a stolen car - would they be able to forgive?
Yes, it is tragic, but, one less criminal on Oldhams streets!
sick- prepared to defend or prepared to condemn?
Adella, get real.
Soldiers dont run away from reality--they have morals.
"there wasn’t a bad bone in your body" I guess the ASBO for "riding his bike into shops, knocking over displays and running into people. ", the criminal record included theft, shoplifting and motor vehicle offences and the stolen car he died in where all from a nice police harmless "not bad" person. with such blinkers,no wonder he was never dealt with.
"the officer who was givin chase why isnt he bein punished causing fricker to die"
Get a grip! The police officer was doing his job! What do you want him to do? let any joyrider, criminal do what they want? Would you let him steal your car or house and say well done and go and terrorise the rest of Oldham? NO!
WHy didnt the young lad stop once he saw the police behind him? maybe because he knew he was breaking the law!
Adella the police officer wasn't giving chase. This criminal just sped off when spotted and killed himself, injured others, and endangered the lives of others. As for having a heart I have one for those innocents killed by people like this on Britain's roads
Adella.
It is when I read comments like yours, I can fully understand why the youth of today acts like it does.
Adella and people of the same opinion obviously have a slanted view of what makes a 'Little Soldier'..This thug caused misery to the people of Shaw and shouldn't be praised after his self perpetuated demise.
We as a society don't lock enough car thieves up, enough with the wishy washy sentimentalism already!!
Have Your Say
The things I really want to say probably wont be published, and will appear to be extremely heartless.
My thoughts go to the immediate family, and we should all be grateful that nobody innocent was killed.
By MarkH @ 24/09/2009 13:10:21