Scatchard’s Final Victim and the System’s Failures | Bristol News

A chilling tale of manipulation and failure: Richard Scatchard, a 71-year-old convicted sex offender with a 40-year history of drugging and assaulting women, killed his final victim, Kelly Faiers, by coercing her into taking lethal doses of sleeping pills. Unaware of his past—including a prior arrest with a body bag and spade in his car—Kelly, a vibrant and loving mother, fell victim to his control. After fleeing following her death, Scatchard was found dead. The inquest confirmed unlawful killing and systemic failures: Scatchard concealed his relationship with Kelly, ignored probation rules, and deleted his search history. Kelly’s family, devastated and furious, grappled with why someone so dangerous was allowed to prey on their mother. Though some police complaints were upheld, Avon and Somerset Police apologized for missed opportunities. The Ministry of Justice is now ramping up probation funding and training to better monitor high-risk offenders, as Kelly’s family believes Scatchard’s violence was inevitable—and if not her, someone else would have paid the price. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/925200825748b694