The father of Damian Clough who perished in an arson attack at his house has told of his shock by the failure to secure a conviction.

David Clough, 48, said: “Whoever did it has taken a beautiful human being from this planet. Damian was full of happiness and joy and he was taken away from us in such a malicious and callous way.”

Mr Clough, who lives in Ingrow, added: “How can those responsible live with themselves?

“I don’t know how they can walk around or sleep at night with a clear conscience when they know what they’ve done.”

Two people, charged with the manslaughter of Damian, 12, who was autistic, walked free from court last week.

A 17-year-old was found not guilty by a Bradford Crown Court jury and earlier in the week his 18–year-old co-accused, Nasir Khan, of Buxton Street, Keighley, was acquitted on the direction of the judge. The incident happened at Damian’s home, in Kinara Close, Stockbridge, Keighley, in April last year.

Mr Clough who works in quality control for a Bradford printing firm, said it was as if Damian’s death was no longer seen as important.

He said he suffered a nervous breakdown while waiting for the court case to begin and has been off work for 11 weeks with severe depression.

He attended all nine days of the court hearing and said he was in “absolute total shock” when he was told that the first defendant was to be acquitted.

He said he was then afraid this would happen to the second suspect. His fears were realised when the 17-year-old walked free last Friday.

A serious case review is being carried out into Damian’s death by the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board.

Mr Clough said he was now waiting for the publication of the report.

“I’m going to read that very carefully and will take legal advice,” he said.

He and Damian’s mother, Julie, were no longer together at the time of their son’s death. His partner, Sue Lowther, who has been with him for the last six months, said: “People see David when he goes out and think that he seems to be coping.But I can see what this has done to him since last Friday - it’s totally destroying him.”

Damian’s great aunt, Anna Duggan, said: “It’s just heartbreaking.”

Mrs Duggan, 66, who lives in Cross Hills, said she had lost all her confidence in the justice system.