A recent inquest into the death of 61-year-old Kelly Faiers in Somerset has highlighted significant concerns about the police’s handling of the case. Kelly was found dead in October 2023 at the home of Richard Scatchard, a 70-year-old convicted sex offender on a life licence. The inquest ruled that Kelly was unlawfully killed.
Kelly and Scatchard had been in a secret relationship for approximately six months, keeping the relationship hidden from their families and relevant authorities. Scatchard had a history of serious convictions, including drugging and sexually assaulting women.
Somerset’s senior coroner, Samantha Marsh, expressed alarm over why Scatchard was not arrested immediately after Kelly’s death, especially since uniformed officers at the scene wanted to detain him on suspicion of manslaughter. However, a duty detective sergeant overruled their decision.
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Officers present at the scene—Pc Harris, Pc Fortune, and Sgt Whitehouse—reported feeling “confused, angry, and frustrated” as their concerns were dismissed. These officers believed Scatchard’s behavior was suspicious and inconsistent with his claim that he had no sexual contact with Kelly. They were also alarmed by his apparent lack of concern over Kelly’s ingestion of a large quantity of sleeping pills combined with alcohol.
Coroner Marsh acknowledged that the officers, acting on instinct and experience, were right to want to arrest Scatchard. Yet, due to police hierarchy and protocol, they deferred to the senior officer’s directive not to arrest. Marsh explained that this raises important questions about decision-making within the police force, especially when dangerous offenders are involved.
Although the coroner will not issue a formal report to prevent future deaths, she plans to write to Avon and Somerset Police Chief Constable Sarah Crew to address her concerns regarding police structure and critical decision-making.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) upheld three complaints about Avon and Somerset Police’s handling of the case and the force has apologized to Kelly’s family. While the IOPC did not find evidence warranting disciplinary action against individual officers, it identified unacceptable service levels in some instances and required those officers to undergo reflective practice reviews.
IOPC Director Derrick Campbell expressed sympathy for Kelly’s family and stated that Avon and Somerset Police could have handled the situation better. The IOPC’s investigation involved reviewing statements, police logs, calls, and policies, but did not find organizational learning opportunities at this time.
An inquest into Richard Scatchard’s death, who was found dead in April 2024, is scheduled for Thursday.