Tragic drowning marked by pool work

The pool where tragic Bilston teenager Shane Owoo met his death a year ago this month was today being cleaned up and secured by residents.

Family friends, councillors and MPs were sprucing up Baileys Pool at The Lunt, Bilston, where the 16-year-old drowned following an attack. The group was clearing the area all day and laying a floral tribute to the teenager at 3pm. The tidy up was organised by Lunt estate campaigner Ann Nightingale.

She said: "This is an extremely important day for the community. "Obviously the timing is significant as it coincides with the anniversary of Shane's death.

"We didn't want to do this on the exact date, however, in case his family wanted peace and quiet."

Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden was helping in the clear up.

He said: "I am delighted to take part in such a worthwhile project. This helps bring the community together and shows the commitment of the people to the area in which they live."

Weak swimmer Shane was frogmarched into the pool on September 29 last year after being pelted with stones and thrown into nettles over a row about a mountain bike.

Christopher Lewis and Marvin Walker, who punched the youngster and laughed as he floundered in the water, were initially sentenced to five-and-a-half years for their part in the killing after they admitted manslaughter.

But both Lewis, aged 23, of Russell Road, St Chad's estate, and Walker, 21, of no fixed abode, later had their sentences increased to seven-and-a-half years at the Court of Appeal.

The clean-up comes just weeks after work to transform another Bilston pool as part of a renaissance to bring it back to its heyday. Around £95,000 is set to be ploughed into Rocket Pool, in Bradley, to make it a magnet for anglers, after it fell into a state of disrepair.

In 2004, 16-year-old Jason Mansell died after plunging into the pool while trying to save 14-year-old friend Luke Pattison. But regeneration bosses have improved angling facilities to bring the stagnant community pool back to its former glory.