IAN Bendall was a 'cheeky chappy' whose problems with drugs ended up costing him his life.

He was known to everyone who knew him in Farnworth as 'Taffy', including the people who ended up killing him.

He had moved to Farnworth from Wales about 10 years before his death and had been living in Tennyson Road with his partner, Karen Nuttall.

They had a falling out around a week before his murder and he went to stay with a friend, Gaynor Rothwell, around the corner in Masefield Drive.

The trial of the five people accused of his murder was told during the prosecution opening that Mr Bendall had been a recovering drug addict but had started taking drugs again in the weeks leading up to the attack on June 9.

To help serve his addiction he had becoming involved in dealing for Alex Smith, operating as a runner in the Farnworth area.

Mr Bendall was equipped with a bike and a stash of drugs to carry out tasks for Smith.

As a runner, Mr Bendall would be given drugs by Smith to deal on his behalf in exchange for cash or to be given drugs to take himself.

However, the trial heard how Mr Bendall 'let Alex Smith and his group down' when he either delved into the stash for himself or took some of the money he had made selling drugs.

This led to Smith, Ellis Hampson and William Coughlan seeking out Mr Bendall before he was taken in the car to the area behind Century Mill in George Street where he was 'brutally beaten'.

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Giving evidence during the trial, Miss Nuttall said she could see the imprints on Mr Bendall's head which he had suffered during the beating.

At first, however, she lied to emergency services, telling them Mr Bendall was attacked in the churchyard of the abandoned St James' Church, in St James' Street, Farnworth.

On Tuesday, June 13 Mr Bendall returned to hospital where he died.

Police immediately cordoned off the churchyard and a large investigation was launched.

Door-to-door inquiries were carried out around the church, which was also the area where Mr Bendall lived.

Residents said they had been 'left in the dark' by police over what had happened.

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The churchyard was known to be a popular spot for local drug users.

A police van was parked outside the house where Miss Nuttall and Mr Bendall lived and patrols were seen near Miss Rothwell's house in Masefield Drive.

That evening officers then cordoned off the area behind Century Mill, where the attack had in fact taken place, after Miss Nuttall revealed what had really happened.

She told the trial she wanted the culprits to pay for what they had done to her partner.

An extensive investigation was carried out behind the mill by forensics officers.

On Wednesday, June 14, a search was carried out by tactical aid units and CSI teams at an address in Ramsay Avenue, Farnworth, near to the mill.

The house is believed to have been the home address of Alex Smith. Officers took a number of items away from the house.

The next day police announced they had arrested a 28-year-old man, now known to be Smith, on suspicion of Mr Bendall's murder.

On the Friday and over the weekend, the trio were charged and appeared in court for the first time.

A week after his death, Mr Bendall's family paid tribute to him.

In a statement they said: “Ian was a vibrant and funny character. He was a cheeky chappy who carried a permanent smile and was always one to lift people’s spirits.

“He was known locally as Taffy to friends. He spent his younger years in Wales and moved to Bolton 10 years ago.

“Ian was a partner, a father, a son, a brother and a friend. He was taken too soon and will be missed by those who knew him.”