When vulnerable Cornwall resident Steven Hoskin moved into his own flat in St Austell, he hoped for independence and friendship. Instead, a group of troubled young people entered his life, gradually taking over his home and exploiting his trusting nature. As warning signs mounted, opportunities to intervene were missed, with devastating consequences…

*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***

This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane.

Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna Fitton.

Audio editing by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions.

Narration, additional audio editing and mixing, and script editing by Benjamin Fitton.

To get early ad-free access, including Season 1, sign up for They Walk Among PLUS, available from Patreon or Apple Podcasts.

More information and episode references can be found on our website https://theywalkamonguspodcast.com

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://linktr.ee/TheyWalkAmongUs

MUSIC:

Sussex by Stephen Keech

Apex Program by Cody Martin

Bane by Cody Martin

Charlie by Cody Martin

Every Life Matters by Cody Martin

Firewall by Cody Martin

Forbidden Wing by Cody Martin

Pandoras Box by Cody Martin

Sabotage by Cody Martin

Storms Coming by Cody Martin

Gravity by Caleb Etheridge

Count Backwards From 10 by Glasseyes

The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Midnight Warrior by Lunareh

Memories Of Future Events by Hill

Prowler by Hill

Three Meters by Stephen Keech

Allied by Wicked Cinema

A Most Unusual Discovery by Wicked Cinema

Lurk by Wicked Cinema

Mission Objective by Wicked Cinema

Out Of Time by Wicked Cinema

Reconciliation by Wicked Cinema

REFERENCES:

NEWSBANK

CornwallLive (England), July 6, 2021

MailOnline (London, England), January 30, 2026

CornwallLive (England), November 24, 2017

Cornish Guardian (Truro, England), August 31, 2012

West Briton, The (Truro, England), January 19, 2012

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), January 23, 2012

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), July 8, 2006

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), July 8, 2006

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), July 10, 2006

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), July 10, 2006

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), July 12, 2006

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), July 14, 2006

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), August 23, 2006

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), November 1, 2006

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), December 2, 2006

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), June 12, 2007

Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland), June 13, 2007

Daily Mirror, The (London, England), June 14, 2007

Express, The (London, England), June 14, 2007

Guardian, The (London, England), June 14, 2007

Times, The (London, England), June 14, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), June 14, 2007

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), June 14, 2007

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), June 15, 2007

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), June 16, 2007

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), June 20, 2007

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), June 21, 2007

Birmingham Mail (England), June 22, 2007

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), July 4, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), July 5, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), July 6, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), July 7, 2007

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), July 12, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), July 13, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), July 27, 2007

Sun, The (London, England), July 28, 2007

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), July 28, 2007

Daily Mail (London, England), July 31, 2007

Daily Mirror, The (London, England), July 31, 2007

Daily Star (England), July 31, 2007

Express, The (London, England), July 31, 2007

Guardian, The (London, England), July 31, 2007

Independent, The (London, England), July 31, 2007

Times, The (London, England), July 31, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), July 31, 2007

Yorkshire Post (England), July 31, 2007

Express, The (London, England), August 2, 2007

Guardian, The (London, England), August 4, 2007

Guardian, The (London, England), August 15, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), October 31, 2007

Guardian, The (London, England), December 6, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), December 6, 2007

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), December 6, 2007

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), December 11, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), December 12, 2007

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), January 8, 2008

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), January 15, 2008

Western Daily Press (Bristol, England), April 3, 2008

Cornish Guardian (Truro, England), April 9, 2008

Cornish Guardian (Truro, England), May 28, 2008

Western Morning News (Plymouth, England), August 28, 2008

Cornish Guardian (Truro, England), December 23, 2008

ONLINE

https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/media/rfvpgfcu/cornwall-executive-report.pdf

https://hundredfamilies.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DARREN_STEWART_JULY_06.pdf

https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/1486239.gang-leader-was-nasty-piece-of-work-court-hears/

https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/1476729.teenage-girl-stamped-on-mans-hand-before-death-plunge-court-hears/

https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/1499430.viaduct-murder-trial-hears-more-witness-evidence/

https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/1579701.pair-convicted-of-st-austell-murder/

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/ehrc_hidden_in_plain_sight_3.pdf

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/mobile/uk_news/england/cornwall/6292624.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/mobile/uk_news/england/cornwall/6905600.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/6748647.stm

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-16576369

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-20640550

https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/evil-teenager-bullies-man-with-learning-difficulties-to-death-7299901.html

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200708/jtselect/jtrights/40/40we80.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/jan/17/health-professionals-risks-killed-flatmate

https://socialcare.wales/cms-assets/documents/31.-Steven-Hoskin-Practice-Review.pdf

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/jul/31/socialcare.crime

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/fifteen-years-day-sadistic-killing-5612425

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/content/news/five-years-on-from-steven-hoskin-has-safeguarding-improved

https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/media/5qff5rtc/cornwall-scr-action-plan.pdf

https://www.scie.org.uk/safeguarding/adults/practice/lessons-learnt/steven-hoskin-ten-years-on/