PC lied about searching room where missing man died

A Greater Manchester Police officer tasked with searching for a missing man failed to search the room where he was later found dead - and lied to cover it up.

PC Lucy Guy was found guilty of gross misconduct and would have been sacked had she not resigned before a disciplinary hearing last month.

The victim, 59-year-old David Aubert, had been knocked unconscious in an unprovoked attack on 2 June 2022, but checked himself out of hospital and went home, where he died of brain injuries later that day.

His brother, Eddie Aubert, told the BBC Guy had failed in her "duty of care" when she falsely told him his brother was not in a bed and breakfast in Longsight where he was living.

"She didn't do her job," he said.

"It wouldn't have made any difference. But it is knowing that, how much care goes into it?

"I mean, they're meant to have a duty of care."

David, who had been out in pubs and clubs in Manchester on the evening he was attacked, was walking alone when he struck up a conversation with a woman at the junction of Bloom Street and Sackville Street in the city centre.

The woman, who had appeared upset, had previously been in an argument with her boyfriend Jonathan Adamson, police said.

Adamson, then 25, was a short distance away and was caught on CCTV sprinting towards David and delivering a "flying punch" to the back of his head - knocking the older man unconscious.

In April 2023, Adamson, from Stalybridge, was jailed for seven years and four months at Manchester Crown Court after admitting manslaughter.

Describing his brother, Eddie said: "He was one of those down-to-earth people, you could have a laugh with him."

He said David could be considered somewhat vulnerable and was was "not street-wise", but was well-liked.

"He did loads of favours for everyone, he was well-known," Eddie said.

"That's the person he was. He had a heart of gold at the end of the day."

David and Eddie were in regular contact and when he had not heard from his brother for a few days, Eddie tried to retrace David's steps.

"I started looking about, going to pubs, finding out where he was drinking, spoke to the landlords, got him on camera and everything," he said.

"I found out he was heading towards town on the double bank holiday and that's where I got up to."

On 6 June, Eddie called GMP to report his brother missing and arranged to meet an officer outside the bed and breakfast on Upper Brook Street, the misconduct hearing was told.

PC Guy was dispatched to make initial inquiries and told Eddie to wait outside while she conducted a search.

She was told David's room was on the first floor of the building, and was even handed a key by a receptionist.

But, according to the panel's ruling, CCTV footage revealed that her 90 second long search only involved a brief look into a communal lounge area downstairs - and that she never went up to the first floor.

When she emerged, she told Eddie that his brother was not inside.

"He was just lying there for days," he said.

"And I was 15 foot away. I wanted to kick the door in myself but I was told not to."

The panel noted that the officer later completed a missing person report and stated she had conducted a "thorough physical search of the home address/place last seen" and specifically stated she had checked his bedroom.

Soon both the police and Eddie were made aware that David had been the victim of an assault and had checked himself out of hospital.

CCTV cameras showed David returning to the bed and breakfast in the early hours of 2 June - but no footage showed him leaving after that day.

On 8 June, David's body was found in his bedroom, and Eddie received a call to inform him of the news he had been dreading while he was at work.

"Basically I collapsed and fell back against a wall and on the floor," he said.

"It's one of those things where you wouldn't know the feeling until it's happened to you."

After the discovery of David's body, Guy was asked to provide a statement explaining her actions.

She claimed she had returned to the bed and breakfast a second time on 6 June and knocked on David's door but did not get an answer.

Radio tracking data and witness accounts proved that to be untrue.

The panel noted: "Applying the objective standards of ordinary decent people, it is our finding that such people would believe that what the officer did was dishonest."

Guy was found guilty of breaches of professional standards of behaviour.

The ruling means she is prohibited from working in any policing role in future.

Det Supt Carl Gilbert, from GMP's Professional Standards Directorate, said: "Firstly, our thoughts are with Mr Aubert's family as the service provided fell well short of that expected from Greater Manchester Police officers.

"Officers and staff are expected to work to the highest standards, and where those standards are not met, decisive action will be taken."

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