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The grieving widow of a builder who died after being struck outside a Screwfix store is “completely devastated” by prosecutors’ decision not to press charges.
Andrew (Andy) Webster, a 51-year-old father of three, suffered fatal head injuries after facing a tail jumper at the DIY store in Warrington, Cheshire, on July 2.
A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and released on bail. Andy’s wife, Lisa, 42, was informed that no further action would be taken after the man claimed self-defense and detectives had “insufficient evidence” to prove otherwise.
The heartbroken mother told Mirror Online that she was crying after receiving the news, saying it was the 24-year-old’s word against that of a dead man.
She said, “We’ve lost a big part of our lives and he just gets on with his life. Andy has no say in this, does he?”
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“No person should be fighting but, at the end of the day, you hit someone and they die. You have so many opportunities to walk away and not get involved, and you basically end up saying you were scared.”
She added: “How can this be okay in this country? I find it disgusting. I feel really disappointed.
“I’m totally numb. I’m disappointed. I feel like I’ve been led down the garden path somehow.”
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that “the legal test for a prosecution was not met” and that there was “insufficient evidence” to dispute the young man’s claim that he acted in self-defense and used “appropriate force.”
Lisa said police told her there were no independent witnesses to see the entire incident.
She said the incident started when the other man lined up inside the store and Andy called him.
He added: “Andy said, ‘Get out of line, we all have to wait in line.’ The guy ignored him. Andy pushed him and said, ‘People are queuing.’
The other man allegedly left the store and returned to his truck and then returned to the queue inside the store.
Lisa added: “I asked the police, ‘How is that self-defense if he has returned to the situation?’ “
She claims the man returned to the store and threatened to cut the tires on Andy’s truck.
Andy asked ‘what did you say about my truck?’ And a store worker told the rowing customers to leave, Lisa added.
There was another altercation outside the store, where witnesses reported seeing a “fight.” At the time, Andy was said to have fallen and hit his head on the ground after being punched.
Lisa said: “Witnesses have said different things. One said there was a fight and the guy hit Andy. Another said it was just a hit.
“Andy had all the bruises on his ribs, so it couldn’t have been a single hit. The police said no one could count how many times he was hit.”
Lisa claims she was told that the other man initially claimed to police that he hit Andy four times, but later said he only hit him once.
She added: “The question for me is, at one point did this suspect feel fear for his life?
“Why didn’t you call the police? Why did you go back to the store if you were scared for your life?”
Victims have the right to appeal against a decision to “take no further action”.
Lisa initially thought it would be a “pointless task” and said, “How can I appeal if I don’t have the support of the police?”
But after thinking about it for a bit, you’ve decided to go ahead with one.
And she hopes one day to question the man.
She said, “They said I can go to forensic court and ask the suspect questions. Is this a consolation prize or something? This doesn’t seem right at all.
“I want to ask, at what point were you afraid for your life? You could have called the police but you didn’t.”
The incident occurred while Screwfix customers were only allowed to pick up orders and click due to coronavirus restrictions, and had to maintain a social distance of at least two meters.
(Image: Facebook)
Cheshire Police detectives visited Lisa at her home Wednesday to tell her that no further action was being taken.
Lisa said she was surprised by the prosecutors’ decision, adding: “I said, ‘What are you going to be charged with?’ And they said, ‘nothing’.
“They said the suspect stated that he was acting in defense.
“Andy had no voice. He’s not here to tell his side of the story. I feel like he’s off balance, it’s really unfair.”
The Websters have a 12-year-old daughter, Ruby, together. Andy had two daughters, Charlene and Annie, from his previous marriage.
Lisa, executive director of CSE Electrical, an electrical safety compliance service, said Ruby has struggled after her father’s death and doesn’t want to be separated from her, but has found comfort in dancing.
Fighting back tears, Lisa said: “She has aspirations to become a dancer and she just throws herself into dancing. It makes me very sad to think about that.
(Image: Lisa Webster)
“She had such a good relationship with her father. He used to tell her, ‘When you go to Russia and become a dancer, I will go with you.’
“The first thing he said (after his father’s death) was, ‘Who is going to come to Russia with me now, Mom?’ I’m so sad that he won’t see his progress on that. “
When Andy was in the hospital, Ruby choreographed a dance just for him and performed it by his bedside.
Wearing his father’s socks, he performed the dance at two funeral wakes held for him in September.
Lisa said, “She said, ‘I’ll dance it for him when he wakes up,’ and then we lost it.
“Right before he died, she danced in front of the entire unit next to his bed, she was so brave.
“We spent a whole night in the hospital with Andy. Ruby said, ‘Dad, please wake up, please wake up.’ Her little heart is completely broken.”
After his death, Lisa described her husband as a “true hero” and the “kindest of men.”
He said he was a “talented” builder and motorcycle enthusiast who took annual trips abroad with Ruby. He formed a small racing team shortly before his death.
When his funeral was held on September 3, he was taken on a “last ride” as dozens of cyclists escorted his coffin to a church.
The coffin was transported in a motorcycle sidecar and featured a photo of a motorcycle and messages written by his wife and Ruby.
Andy gave life to others by donating his organs to strangers. His right kidney was for a man in his 50s and a woman in his 40s received her liver during a life-saving transplant.
(Image: Facebook)
Lisa said: “He signed the register several times. He donated from the heart down. I am so proud of him.
“I’m 40 years old, to think that he saved a woman like me is just incredible.”
CPS Mersey Cheshire Crown District Attorney Keith Drummond said: “Having considered all the evidence, we concluded that the legal test for prosecution was not met.
“The suspect alleged self-defense and that adequate force was used and there was insufficient evidence to dispute this version of events.
“We know this is upsetting for the family and we have written to explain our decision in full.”
Earlier, Cheshire police said officers were called to report an altercation between two men at Gateway Trade Park shortly after 10 a.m. on July 2.
The force said Andy was seriously injured in an assault and described it as an “isolated incident” as they increased patrols in the area to reassure the public.
After the incident, Andy was taken to Liverpool Aintree Hospital in Liverpool for specialized care, but died six days later, on July 8.
Police made multiple appeals for witnesses and dash cam footage during the months of investigation.
Cheshire Police declined to comment on the decision not to press charges in the case.
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