Family of ‘murdered’ woman had to use Google to find sex offending history of fugitive ex-partner

The family of a “loving” mother say they had to resort to Google to find out the man wanted in connection with her alleged murder was a convicted sex offender.

Kelly Faiers, aged 61, was found dead at the home of Richard Scatchard in Minehead on 15 October.

Despite previous convictions for drugging women and sexual abuse, Scatchard was not taken away by police for questioning – and when officers returned to talk to him the following day, he’d vanished.

Avon and Somerset Police then launched a public appeal to find the 70-year-old, but did not initially disclose he was a convicted sex offender.

Speaking to The Independent, the family of Ms Faiers said “failings” by the police to arrest Scatchard at his home and then not to reveal his criminal history had put them and members of the public at risk of danger.

They discovered Scatchard’s convictions – including sexual offences in which he drugged his victims 2000 – by searching his name on Google.

The family said they had submitted a formal complaint to the force, claiming to have been let down and angry by a lack of support and information provided during the investigation.

Daughter Jazmin Faiers, said: “The police failed to inform us the death was suspicious and put me at risk for four days whilst leaving me living on my own at my mother’s address whilst knowing his criminal past and that he had he had been to the address on multiple occasions.

“The police issued missing notices for Richard claiming this was on a preservation of life basis yet there were no indicators that he was suicidal and I could have been at significant risk – whose life is more important?

“It took me to searching his name on Google to find out his criminal history. We’re the victims, but the system has made us feel like the criminals.”

A statement on behalf of Ms Faiers family, also including daughters Tania Jackson, Laurie Perry and son Michael Faiers, said an initial decision by the force not to report itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct was “an insult to the family”. Last week the force referred itself to the police watchdog.

The statement was issued a day after Ms Faiers funeral at South Bristol Crematorium, a short distance from her home in Weston-super-Mare. Tests are yet to reveal how she died, but her death is being treated as “suspicious” and is subject of a murder investigation.

After her marriage of more than 20 years broke down in 2021, the mother-of-four moved to the seaside town and soon began a relationship with Scatchard after meeting him on a dating app, meeting him a couple of times a month, her family say.

But on 15 October, South Western Ambulance Service was called to his home, and Ms Faiers was pronounced dead at the scene.

Having been on the run for several weeks, Crimestoppers added Scatchard to its Most Wanted list with a reward of £10,000 offered for information on his whereabouts, describing him as “dangerous”.

Avon and Somerset Police say Scatchard is considered a risk to the public, specifically women he forms relationships with, and is a regular use of dating apps. In November, the force released CCTV of him having a drink at pub in Minehead with Ms Faiers the night before she died.

One line of inquiry for detectives is that Scatchard is being harboured by another woman.

However, as the search continues, the grieving family of Ms Faiers say they are frustrated at the lack of progress and information received from investigating officers.

The family statement continued: “We feel let down and angry with the police that they have played down their role in letting him go and that the subsequent press coverage has been diluted to avoid focus on their actions and errors.

Xural.com