TRAGIC Joanne Whitelegg had complained to Social Services bosses that she was being hounded by the young girl who went on to kill her, the BEN can reveal today.

The 35-year-old woman had previously lodged a complaint against Nicola Faughey, who lived in council care. She later decided to drop proceedings when they were only in the initial stages.

But Joanne's family believe the girl had formed a bizarre infatuation with the woman, and had become increasingly possessive towards her.

The dead woman's sisters Rosemary Whitelegg and Sally Pickering claim that a few years before the brutal killing, the teenager had targeted Joanne's home, setting fire to a front door and cutting the electricity supply.

Those alleged attacks formed part of the complaint that Jo filed against the teenager with the town hall.

But, after a turbulent start, the two built up a friendship which was to have tragic consequences.

Mrs Pickering said: "Jo was quite a loving person. She was possibly a mother figure to her. Maybe the girl looked up to her."

Rosemary Whitelegg continued: "Jo had told me about three or four years before that she had had trouble with a group of kids. She made a formal complaint to social services and the police knew about it.

"I used to go and see her and she would say there had been a lot of bother with children. But Jo knew we all had our own problems so she didn't want to burden us with hers.

"Jo dropped the case but whether she was frightened of her we just don't know.

"It was a strange situation. As far as we're concerned she sort of tormented Jo. This girl is a very possessive person and got herself attached to people."

Joanne's family are still struggling to come to terms with the terrible details of her death.

It proved a double tragedy for Joanne's relatives. Her Valentine's Day death came on the 25th anniversary of her father's funeral after he had lost his battle against cancer. Her family believe the young killer showed little pity for her helpless victim, stabbing Joanne repeatedly in what they say must have been a frenzied attack.

Mum-of-two Mrs Pickering, who lives near Hull, said: "This girl never attempted to save her life. I can't believe the cold-blooded nature of it. It was so ruthless. We understand she even kicked Jo in the stomach.

"It is needed to bring to the attention of people that this horrible thing has happened and a juvenile has done it.

"She was a time bomb waiting to go off and it is a case of Jo having been in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Now the two sisters are set to take up the complaints against Bolton social services. The teenager was under their care when she committed the stabbing.

It comes amid claims that the day after Joanne's body had been found, the teenager -- who denied the stabbing until the day she was due to stand trial -- had been taken out by social services staff on a shopping trip.

Mrs Pickering said: "People are always ready to blame social services but I believe we have got a very good point. We have had no apology from social services or any acknowledgment."

Rosemary Whitelegg, who lives in Timperley, added: "She should have been in a more secure place and she should have been disciplined better."

The family are also bitter that it took six months before the young killer finally owned up to her crimes, meaning detailed preparations for a trial at Manchester Crown Court proved needless.

Mrs Pickering said: "We feel very bitter towards this girl. Not only did she take Jo's life but it's also the pain she has caused everyone."