Garden planted to remember murdered schoolboy

A memorial garden has been planted in memory of murdered schoolboy Alfie Steele, who died after months of abuse by his mother and her partner.

The community on the Copcut Rise Estate turned out to create the garden near a bench installed in his memory, close to where he lived.

Alfie had more than 50 injuries on his body when he died, aged nine, at his home in Droitwich.

His mother Carla Scott was convicted of manslaughter, and her partner Dirk Howell was found guilty of murdering Alfie, both were jailed last year.

Wychavon councillor Daniel Birch said residents turned out in the rain to get the garden planted, adding: “We had people coming offering us cups of tea and walking past and admiring the garden as it was taking shape.

“I'm incredibly grateful that everybody was willing to bear the elements.”

He said Alfie's grandmother visited the garden after it was planted, adding: “She was incredibly grateful and incredibly touched that the community pulled together for Alfie.”

It is hoped the memorial garden will provide somewhere for people to reflect on what happened.

Mr Birch said: “The death of Alfie Steele was absolutely tragic and it's the sort of event that shouldn't happen within our communities and we need to do more as a society, I believe, to make sure that we are preventing these.”

He said it was warming to know that there were people who raised the alarm, adding: “We need to make sure that people continue to do so when they have concerns.”

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