Man in hiding after arson attack

Arsonists attacked Mr O'Connor's house, near to the Farmers Arms

A partially-blind man who stabbed an intruder to death is in hiding after his home was set on fire.

Tom O'Connor - who will not be charged in connection with the incident - said the death of Lee Kelso in June had had a "devastating effect" on him and his family.

The 62-year-old is currently living away from the Manchester area after his house in Brinnington, Stockport, was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.

Police have said they fear for his safety if he returns to the estate, where friends and family of Mr Kelso are angry he will not face charges.

Mr O'Connor - who is blind in one eye and can only see shadows in the other - says he stabbed Mr Kelso to death in self-defence after the 23-year-old smashed his way through the front door.

Due to his disabilities Mr O'Connor... defended himself in the only way that he could Mr O'Connor's solicitor, Ronan Maguire

Police said on Wednesday they would not press charges against Mr O'Connor because they could not prove he had not acted in self-defence.

His solicitor, Ronan Maguire, said: "The events of the past two months have had a devastating effect on everybody connected with this incident.

"While Mr O'Connor is deeply saddened by the consequences of his actions he maintains that he did no more than was necessary to protect himself and his wife.

"Due to his disabilities Mr O'Connor was particularly vulnerable in this sort of situation and believing that he and his wife to be in immediate danger defended himself in the only way that he could."

Where's the justice? There is none. I think it's disgusting Lee Kelso's girlfriend, Gemma Evans

Greater Manchester Police said Mr O'Connor and his family had left the Manchester area for their own safety.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Foster, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "This was an extremely unfortunate incident and we have helped the couple to relocate after their home was destroyed in an arson attack and we have genuine fears for their safety if they were return to the area.

"Each case is assessed by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service on an individual basis and in this particular case we sought advice from leading counsel.

"We have found that it could not be disproved that the [Mr O'Connor] exercised reasonable force in defending himself, his wife and his home."

'Not a violent person'

But Mr Kelso's girlfriend, Gemma Evans, said she was "disgusted" that Mr O'Connor had not been charged.

She said: "Where's the justice? There is none. I think it's disgusting. We've only gotten to listen to his side of the story, Lee's not here to tell me his. I wish he was.

"He wasn't a violent person, not at all, no matter how much beer he'd had he wouldn't have done that.

"He had a young child to think of. He was on his way home to me and Charlie and we just don't know what happened and we'll never know why."