Autistic teenager 'was murdered by thugs who set him on fire with self-tanning spray at his own 18th birthday party'



Six people, including three teenagers, arrested for attempted murder



Police say tanning oil somehow set alight after group were fooling around



One man tried to put out the flames and 'can still hear the screaming'

Friends say the teenager had recently moved house after being bullied



Burns: Steven Simpson died on Sunday evening after suffering from 'significant burns' at a party he had thrown to celebrate his 18th birthday



A student died after being set alight with self-tanning spray at his 18th birthday party.

Steven Simpson, who was autistic, suffered horrific burns at the party held at his flat.

After he ran screaming from his home, neighbours rushed to his aid and doused the flames, but he suffered 'significant' burns and died in hospital.

The teenager had recently moved home to escape bullies who had been tormenting him because of his autism.

Locals said a gang of youths at his former address had made his life a misery, calling him names and throwing paint over him.

Detectives from South Yorkshire police have launched a murder inquiry and arrested six people, including three teenagers. They are probing whether the bullying was a factor in his death.

Another theory is that he and his friends had been drinking and messing about with the spray, which is highly flammable, before he suffered the fatal burns.

Last night Mr Simpson's devastated family paid tribute to the teenager.

They said: 'Steven had just turned 18 and was just starting out in life. Kevin and Jackie, Steven's father and stepmother, and Bernadette his mother cannot describe the loss they all feel at this time.

'Steven was a very caring and lovely young man and will be missed by everyone who knows him.'

Emergency services were called to the party at Mr Simpson's flat, in Cudworth, near Barnsley, at 2.20am last Saturday.

Neighbour Sean Banner rushed to Mr Simpson's aid after seeing him screaming in agony on the balcony. He extinguished the flames, burning himself in the process.

Paramedics rushed Mr Simpson to Barnsley Hospital and he was transferred to the specialist burns unit in Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, but died from his injuries at 11.40pm on Sunday.

Neighbour Kerry Blackburn said: 'There was a party at Steven's flat for his 18th birthday. There was loud music and drinking going on.

'Sean Banner is a hero for trying to save Steven's life.'

Party: Steven Simpson had hosted a party at his house in Pleasant View, Cudworth, near Barnsely, (general view of road is pictured). Six people, including three teenagers, were arrested and five have been bailed



Mr Banner has gone to stay at his girlfriend's house while he recovers from his injuries, but a friend looking after his flat said he would need counselling. 'Sean went to help the poor lad and tried his best to put the flames out, but it was no use,' the friend said. 'He is very traumatised.'

Tributes: Bunches of flowers and messages of condolence are placed outside Steven's flat where the incident happened in front of shocked party-goers



Mr Simpson, an only child, had moved to the flat with his mother, Bernadette, six months ago from another suburb of the former pit town.



They left to escape bullies who had been tormenting the Barnsley College student.

Former neighbour Ryan Clarke, 20, said: 'Steven was autistic, but it was not obvious when you first met him.



But he was different and people used to pick on him and call him “gay”.

'He was just a nice lad who wanted to be friends with everybody and was always smiling, but there are some sick people.

'The bullies threw paint on him when he lived here and eventually his mum and him decided to move away so it might stop.'

Hundreds of tributes have been left to the youngster on Facebook.



Family friend Jayne Firth wrote: 'My heart is breaking... I will never forget your smiling face... fly high sweetheart, may you rest in peace.'

South Yorkshire Fire Brigade confirmed the fire had been started deliberately.



Three men aged between 19 and 39 and three teenagers aged 16 and 17, all from Barnsley, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.