Gran stabbed to death in 'debt raid'

Coroner says case is 'sad and harrowing'

- THOMAS GEORGE

A GRANDMOTHER was stabbed to death in an act of 'self-defence' after storming a house to demand a debt, a coroner ruled.

Debbie Twist, 47, was stabbed in the chest after she raided the house in Manchester Road, Leigh, along with her son and another man. The gang were wearing masks and armed with weapons including an 'airgun' when they descended on the house on the evening of March 17, 2019.

An inquest at Bolton Coroners Court heard that the raid victim - whose pregnant partner was also at home - stabbed Ms Twist in the chest as he tried to fend off an attack. She suffered 'a single stab wound' and died from her injury in hospital the same day.

In a statement, Ms Twist's daughter, Bethany, described her mother as a 'sociable' and 'well-liked' woman who volunteered at a number of charities.

On the afternoon of March 17, Bethany said she, her mum and others had gone out to celebrate her brother Jordan Winstanley's birthday at the Canal Turn pub in Leigh.

Bethany said she had arranged to visit a man to collect a debt he owed, but her mother said she would go and retrieve the money instead.