A WATCHDOG has ordered a police response probe after a woman was found murdered in the home of a fugitive Scots sex offender who died following a six-month manhunt.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has given the green light for an investigation into the circumstances around Kelly Faiers’ death.
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The 61-year-old’s lifeless body was found at the home of Richard Scatchard, in Minehead, Somerset, in October, after a night out with the mum-of-four.
Avon and Somerset Police attended the property after Scatchard, 70, originally from Newton Mearns, near Glasgow, raised the alarm.
But when they returned the following day he had fled – sparking a manhunt that ended with Scatchard’s remains being found in a caravan in Watchet, Somerset, last month.
Kelly’s loved-ones have long been demanding an investigation into how cops handled the initial call-out.
It has now emerged the IOPC has ordered an independent probe into the tragic circumstances.
Regional director David Ford said: “I send my sincere sympathies to Ms Faiers’ family over the sudden loss of their loved one.
“Our thoughts are with them and everyone affected by her death.
“Our investigation, carried out independently of police, is thorough and will ensure that the actions of the officers involved are properly scrutinised.
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“In particular, we are analysing the police decision not to detain Mr Scatchard or begin a criminal investigation immediately after Ms Faiers was found at his address.
“We are considering what information officers who attended the Minehead address had when Mr Scatchard was first spoken to and any liaison that took place between them and supervisory officers.
“We have been in contact with Ms Faiers’ family to explain our role and we will be giving regular updates to them as our investigation continues to develop.”
We told how grieving daughter Tania Jackson, 40, was relieved at Scatchard’s death but angry he had taken the truth about her killing to the grave.
The mum-of-two, of Nailsea, said: “It’s a relief that he’s dead but unfortunate we won’t be able to face him and ask questions.
“Not only has he hurt us and our mum, you’ve got to think of his previous victims, the lady that found him in her caravan – because that must have been the most traumatic thing ever – and even his own family.
“He has left a trail of devastation and there are so many unanswered questions.”
Scatchard was handed a life sentence at Warrington crown court, Cheshire, in 2000 after pleading guilty to drugging three women so he could film them for sick porn videos.
He was freed on licence in 2013. Police said he died some time ago and his death was not being treated as suspicious.
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The IOPC said it would “retain a degree of oversight” on the probe on completion.
They added: “We have also instructed the force that if any conduct matters arise for individuals from their local investigation, they must be referred to the IOPC.”