Bullies 'may have killed' paedophile

Arnold Hartley had been jailed for 12 months in 2001

Police investigating the death of a convicted paedophile on Teesside, believe he may have been killed in a confrontation with bullies that went wrong.

Sex offender Arnold Hartley, 73, was found early on Saturday at his home in Redcar, Teesside.

He died from serious head and facial injuries.

Cleveland Police have called on the community around Queen Street in Redcar not be influenced by any prejudices they may have about Mr Hartley's past.

Officer investigating now think the murder may have stemmed from a confrontation with bullies who had been plaguing Mr Hartley for some time.

Detectives are studying CCTV footage taken in the early hours of 29 November, when the murder took place.

This was a sad, pathetic figure who was constantly bullied and threatened and had goods extorted from him Detective Superintendent Brian Dunn

Detective Superintendent Brian Dunn, who is in charge of the murder hunt, said: "We have now had some calls from the public, which point to the possibility that Mr Hartley may have died in a confrontation with local bullies that went wrong.

"But we still need more information from the community which lived around Mr Hartley.

"Mr Hartley was an elderly man who led a miserable life.

"This was a sad, pathetic figure who was constantly bullied and threatened and had good extorted from him.

"His possessions were stripped of him over several months.

Indecent photographs

"This may have been a bullying attempt that got out of control.

"The answer to this murder lies in the close-knit community around Queen Street."

Mr Hartley had been convicted of eight offences of making indecent photographs of girls under 14 and one case of gross indecency in 2001.

He was released in April 2002 and returned to his home in Redcar.

Detectives are studying CCTV footage of two men, one of whom was without shoes, who were seen fleeing the murder scene between midnight and 0100 GMT on 29 November.

A 28-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman who were arrested and interviewed on Sunday were released without charge.