PC told not to arrest offender after woman's death

A police officer who was told not to arrest a convicted sex offender she suspected had fatally drugged his partner said her superior's decision was part of the "worst hour of my policing career".

Kelly Faiers, 61, was found dead at the home of Richard Scatchard, 70, in Minehead, Somerset, in October 2023.

By the time officers returned to Scatchard's home the following day, he had disappeared. He was found five months later dead in a caravan in Watchet, Somerset.

Three police officers told an inquest at Somerset Coroner's Court they knew Scatchard had previous convictions for drugging and sexually assaulting women and wanted to arrest him on suspicion of manslaughter.

But they said they were told not to by a duty detective sergeant, who felt that "an arrest would be a massive escalation".

Scatchard told Avon and Somerset Police officers that he had found Faiers lying unconscious on the floor of his lounge after she had taken up to 10 sleeping tablets.

PC Alex Harris said she knew from the police database that Scatchard was a registered sex offender and had convictions for administering drugs to obtain intercourse.

"Richard Scatchard then informed me that they had some sexual foreplay, but did not have sex," she said in a written statement.

"He then informed me that Kelly had taken sleeping tablets. I confirmed 10, as I was really shocked by this."

Harris said she became increasingly uneasy about Scatchard's demeanour.

"He wasn't saying very much and was constantly pacing around the flat going from the kitchen to the bedroom. He appeared very uneasy in our presence," she said.

"I asked why Kelly took them [sleeping tablets] and he replied, 'Because I like to watch her sleep'."

Harris contacted a colleague, Sgt Lauren Whitehouse, who told her she had relayed the details to the duty detective sergeant who felt that Scatchard should not be arrested at that time.

"This decision left me feeling confused, angry and frustrated. I felt that my suspicions were being dismissed," Harris said.

"I can obviously say the next hour whilst waiting for my colleagues was the worst hour of my policing career.

"I felt physically sick in Richard Scatchard's presence whilst trying to make a polite conversation in an attempt to defuse the atmosphere."

Harris added: "I can't help but regret that I didn't ignore the decision made by the duty detective sergeant while I was in Richard Scatchard's company."

Whitehouse told the inquest she had informed superiors of the death because she and her colleagues felt it was suspicious.

"The detective sergeant advised that Richard Scatchard should not be arrested at this stage and that a detailed statement should be taken from him in regards to his relationship with Kelly, the events leading up to what happened that morning and when or how he had found her, also to include what she had taken and how she had taken it," she said.

Whitehouse said she was advised to await the results of a post-mortem examination before making a decision on arresting Scatchard.

She said she had noticed some tablets in takeaway boxes in Scatchard's living room, and asked where the packaging was. He informed her he had put it in the bin.

She later found the boxes and blister packs for both sleeping pills and erectile dysfunction medication loose in the communal bins outside Scatchard's flat.

PC Kate Fortune said Scatchard appeared "uncomfortable in our presence".

"Following the unexpected decision not to arrest Richard Scatchard, I spent a further hour following him between the kitchen and bedroom trying to maintain polite conversation with him, when I felt our genuine concerns were being dismissed," she said.

"I felt at the time that Richard Scatchard was a clear flight risk.

"He was uncomfortable in the presence of police officers and it seemed to me he was expecting to be arrested."

The inquest previously heard that Scatchard had been in a relationship with the mother of four, from Weston-super-Mare, for six months and had not informed probation officers about it, as he was required to.

The inquest continues.

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