"I couldn’t have coped alone"

COMING to terms with the horrendous murder of her beloved father was always going to be a difficult battle for Springhead mum Louise Hilditch. But counselling from Oldham Victim Support has helped her tackle the psychological effects that such a devastating crime and loss brings.

With the service currently battling to secure funding to continue the work of three trained counsellors, Richard Hooton spoke to Louise to find out how invaluable they have been for her.

DETAILS of the sickening murder of Derker grandfather James Smith shocked Oldham last year.

But the circumstances of how the popular security guard came to be robbed of his life were unbearable for his family.

The 62-year-old was found dead 17 days after Keith Buckley (22), and Adrian Hutchinson (24) attacked him in the early hours of February 25, 2007.

The murder was the climax to an horrific crime spree that saw the pair steal mobile phones and money from five separate victims in a series of muggings, using escalating levels of violence.

It culminated in the attack on Mr Smith, with his body laying undiscovered in a yard behind premises in Union Street while his frantic relatives issued police appeals.

His mobile phone was sold by his assailants for just £20.

Hutchinson, of Byland Avenue, Holts, and Buckley, of Goodwin Court, Chadderton, were jailed for minimum terms of 28 years and 26 years respectively.

Louise (30) first had to cope with the desperate search for her missing dad — and then the devastating news of his murder.

She said: “I was looking everywhere for him. The not knowing was worse.

“When we got the knock on the door when they found my dad it was as though my world collapsed. I remember the police telling me and I did not want to believe it.

“But it was a relief knowing that he had been found. I could not have gone on like that. Every night I couldn’t sleep and I had my mobile phone on hoping he would ring.”

More heartbreak followed, though, as the family started to realise how Mr Smith had suffered.

Louise said: “It was during the trial when we got to hear everything. That crushed me. I couldn’t get my head round it. He did not deserve to go like that. I kept having these visions in my head. It wasn’t very nice.

“I did not want to get up in the morning. It was like my world had ended. I did not eat or sleep, I just cried. It’s not nice being in that dark place.”

But, by then she had been referred to Oldham Victim Support.

Louise said: “I must admit when they came to see me at my house I just wanted to lock my door and put my head in the sand and not talk to anyone, but they said come to the office and talk. Straight away it helped.

“The first time I saw Wendy I cried for an hour.

“I’m just glad I did as I look forward to the sessions to get it all off my chest. I would not have coped without this service.

“I would not like to say what would have happened without it.

“It’s cleared my head a lot and helped me at home.”

As a mum of four young children, Louise has also had to protect and comfort her children.

She said: “I try my hardest to keep myself together for the kids.

“I try to keep it in and when they go to bed that’s when it comes out.”

Oldham Victim Support, which is part of the Greater Manchester Victim Support and Witness Protection Service, has 24 volunteers who carry out home visits, and 16 who work in the courts.

But, as revealed by the Evening Chronicle last week, £60,000 of funding from the Big Lottery Fund granted three years ago for three trained counsellors runs out next week.

The service is approaching other sources to try to continue the good work.

Louise is just one of many who have benefited from this part of the service. And successful counselling can benefit society as a whole, with victims helped back into work, to rebuild relationships, to stop taking costly medication, and to regain confidence.

Louise said: “I think it would be a total shame to lose it. I would be devastated if it went. People need this.

“I think it’s just as important to have the counselling as well as the advice and support. It’s quite a big thing that they do the counselling.

“It’s helped me realise I want to be a counsellor. When I feel strong enough to go through the course I will definitely do it. If some good can come out of it, it’s made me realise that counselling is really important to people. It must be a rewarding job, making a difference. If it carries on my dad’s name I think he will be proud of me to do it.

“He was fantastic. He was so funny. That’s why I miss him so much. When I felt down he just made me smile.

“It was nice at the funeral seeing how popular he was. He was a lovely guy. I’m proud to say he was my dad.”

Wendy Shaw, from Lees, has counselled Louise at the Oldham branch’s Meridian Centre base, King Street, for 14 months.

She said: “A lot of it with Louise has been working through the pain. The pain has been unbearable at times and so intense. She has struggled with the permanence of losing her dad.

“Therapy has been prolonged for Louise because of constant reminders. There’s been something that’s either been said or letters received that’s brought her back to the bottom again.

“I feel it’s helped Louise to put things in perspective and see some kind of direction. It’s empathy people want, not sympathy. They want to be heard.

“People definitely need the service. There are so many people walking around with the same or similar issues who are frightened of seeking help or have not been offered it. That’s why I want to keep the service and promote it.

“In the future there will be many more people like Louise who unfortunately go through the same or similar and other counselling organisations don’t help victims of crime.”