THE family of a man who hanged himself have made an official complaint against Cleveland Police.

Solicitors acting on their behalf have alleged police inactivity over protection measures concerning Paul Wardell.

The 32-year-old hanged himself at his home in Mansfield Avenue, Thornaby, in January after the collapse of a court case.

Angela McFarlane, of solicitors Watson Woodhouse, which is acting on behalf of his family, said that Cleveland Police had advised him to keep an itemised account of nightly attacks on his home.

Those ended in an attack in which he suffered a fractured skull. He was beaten up with a baseball bat and martial arts fighting sticks in front of his children Ashley, aged eight, Simon, aged 12 and sister Karen Squires.

Three youths were charged with violent disorder and one of them additionally, with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. All three denied the offences.

The children picked their father's alleged assailants out at an identity parade but Ms Squires could not.

The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the case because of insufficient evidence.

Solicitor Ms McFarlane said: "The police failed to give Paul any protection or take any action. Over a period of time, the police simply were not able or willing to do anything to protect him.

The family are making statements to the coroner's officer on Monday.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said a formal complaint had been received and it would be inappropriate to comment before it was investigated.