A coroner has ruled that Kelly Faiers, 61, was unlawfully killed after being coerced by her partner, convicted sex offender Richard Scatchard, into taking a lethal overdose of sleeping tablets combined with alcohol.
Ms. Faiers was discovered deceased in October 2023 at Scatchard’s home in Minehead, Somerset. The couple had been secretly involved for approximately six months. Neither Ms. Faiers’ family nor Scatchard’s probation officer were aware of the relationship, despite his obligation to disclose it.
Scatchard, aged 70, had a long history of sexual offences dating back to the 1980s, with convictions including attempted rape and sexual assault. He was serving a life sentence on license after being imprisoned in 2000. On the night of the incident, Scatchard was found to have facilitated an environment of coercion and control, ultimately leading to Ms. Faiers’ overdose.
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Police officers initially wanted to arrest Scatchard on suspicion of manslaughter but were overruled. By the time further investigations were underway, Scatchard had disappeared. He was later found dead in April 2024 in a caravan in Watchet, Somerset.
Senior Coroner Samantha Marsh described Scatchard as “devious, cunning, and untruthful,” noting he secretly possessed a second mobile phone despite restrictions. The coroner concluded that, although there was no evidence of physical force in administering the tablets, the coercive control exerted by Scatchard led Ms. Faiers to consume a dangerous dose.
The post-mortem examination established that Ms. Faiers died from respiratory depression caused by the combined effects of alcohol and sleeping tablets. Coroner Marsh expressed deep sadness over the tragedy, emphasizing that Ms. Faiers preferred the toxic relationship over loneliness, a decision that ultimately deprived her loved ones of the chance to protect her.
The case raises significant concerns about the failures in monitoring relationships involving individuals on life license, highlighting the need for better safeguarding processes. Ms. Faiers was unaware of Scatchard’s true identity, and authorities did not know of their relationship, which may have prevented timely interventions.
Although there is no evidence that Scatchard intended to cause Ms. Faiers’ death, his controlling behavior and coercion directly contributed to the fatal outcome. An inquest into Scatchard’s own death is scheduled for later this year.