Shaun Pilkington, 58, was sent a letter saying he was to lose his Employment and Support Allowance, which he got after a long-term illness
A grandad who had just found out his benefits were being stopped shot himself dead – after telling friends he was “unable to cope”.
Shaun Pilkington, 58, was sent a letter saying he was to lose his Employment and Support Allowance, which he got after a long-term illness.
He was told he would have to be reassessed and needed to prove he was eligible. But as the hearing approached, friends said Shaun, a licensed gamekeeper, became discouraged.
Days later he called police and said he was about to kill himself. They found him dead at his flat.
A neighbour said: “There were armed police everywhere. Sadly he’d gone through with his threat.
“It is a tragedy. He was upset because he got a letter saying his ESA was being stopped.
“He was pretty down about it and said he was finding it hard to cope with the decision. He was a lovely man. It is not fair what the Government is doing.”
Well-wishers left floral tributes and cans of Stella outside Shaun’s home in Beighton, Sheffield.
The neighbour added: “It all got on top of him – having no money for Christmas and being warned he’d lose his benefits.
“It’s wrong what they’re doing, targeting people on benefits. We haven’t got a lot of money but the Government seems intent on cutting it.”
Registered gun-keeper Shaun was divorced and had two grown-up children and a two-month-old grandson.
Another neighbour, Shani Hird, said yesterday: “We have lost a dear neighbour who shot himself due to his money being stopped. His appeal was due next week but he felt he could not carry on.
“This is so sad. This isn’t the first time this has happened and it won’t be the last. I think it is terrible the Government’s benefit cuts are causing vulnerable people so much pain and misery.”
Police yesterday confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.
Shaun’s estranged family was too upset to talk. He joins a growing list of people who have taken their lives since the Tory-led Coalition employed private firm Atos to reassess thousands of people on long-term benefits.
Blind Tim Salter, 53, of Kinver, Staffordshire, died after being deemed fit to work. A coroner ruled the move to axe his benefit had contributed to his suicide.
Edward Jacques, 47, of Sneinton, Nottingham, took a fatal overdose after his benefit payments were stopped.
Jobless Richard Sanderson, 44, of Southfields, south-west London, stabbed himself in the heart. Unemployed electrician Lee Robinson, 39, of Crawley, Sussex, also took his own life.
For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.
This would never happen to a Muslim, they would be treated with respect and dignity, but if your White British, they don't care less about you, they don't care less how ill or disabled you are, they take one look at you and sign you off, they take one look at a Muslim, and keep them on.
This is just another way of of killing off the White race of Great Britain, they know by stopping their disabled benefits, that will not be able to cope, and there is only one way out, and that is to end your life.
Right now the government have two ways to make people take their life, the first is to stop the disabled from getting their benefits , and the 2nd is to evict people from their homes because of the bedroom tax. You never hear of a Muslim loosing their benefits do you, and you never see a Muslim homeless , and you never will.
There are genuine disabled people out there who need help to wash and dress, they may need changing if they have an accident, they might need help at meal times, there are people who look alright on the outside, but they are far from alright on the inside. ATOS get £400 for every person they take of, they are not interested in the person, they are interested in the money, and because of this, people are taking the thee own lives.
Shame On You Cameron, You Muslim loving Son Of A Bitch.