Kelly Faiers’ family react to the discovery of Richard Scatchard’s body
By Bea Swallow & Rachel Stonehouse
BBC News, West of England
Loved ones voiced their anger after a sex offender wanted over the murder of their mum was able to “evade justice”.
Richard Scatchard, 70, was wanted over the death of Kelly Faiers, 61, who was found “critically ill” at his home in Minehead, Somerset, on 15 October.
Avon and Somerset Police has referred itself to the Professional Standards Department (IOPC) again.
Kelly Faiers’ children told the BBC they felt “angry and let down” that Scatchard was not properly questioned immediately after their mother’s death.
In December, Kelly Faiers’ family made a complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about the police response to her death.
Daughters Jazz Faiers (l) and Tania Jackson (r) say they “haven’t had time to digest” the news
Avon and Somerset Police then voluntarily referred itself to the IOPC on 4 January, due to officers’ contact with Scatchard at the scene of Kelly Faiers’ death, shortly before he disappeared.
It has now referred itself to the IOPC for a second time.
A spokesperson for the force said: “This is because we spoke with the 70-year-old at the scene of Kelly’s death, shortly before he disappeared, before carrying out subsequent enquiries to find him.”
“Ultimately, I feel like his death could have been prevented,” Jazz Faiers, Kelly Faiers’ youngest daughter said.
“If [police] had followed protocols at the start and had him then, this could all have been prevented.”
Image source, Avon and Somerset Police
Richard Scatchard had not been spotted in public since 16 October 2023
A post-mortem examination of Scatchard’s body proved inconclusive in determining the cause of his death, though police say it was “apparent Scatchard died some time ago”.
“Everything [police] put us through in those six months, only to come to the ending he is no longer here,” Jazz Faiers added.
“I’m glad he can’t harm anyone else, but it doesn’t bring us any form of closure or justice.
“There should have been a court case. The whole thing wasn’t fair on us and his past victims.
“He shouldn’t have been allowed to die.”
A member of the public discovered Scatchard’s body in a caravan in Watchet
Scatchard’s remains were found in an empty caravan less than 10 miles away from the hotel in Minehead where he was last officially spotted on CCTV in October.
Kelly Faiers’ eldest daughter, Tania Jackson, said she believed failing to check the caravan site was an oversight on the part of the police.
“It’s quite unbelievable that he was that close, especially considering there was more than one sighting of him on the Dunster coastal path.
“Why were they not checked? They were empty. He liked caravanning. It seems the obvious place,” Ms Jackson added.
“[Police] have wasted huge amounts of public money on ridiculous searches that were never going to come to a conclusion.
“The only conclusion we’ve got now is he’s dead, and this should never have happened.”
In response, Avon and Somerset Police said they carried out “more than 300 actions” that included making CCTV inquiries, deploying specialist search teams across West Somerset, carrying out financial checks and issuing public appeals for information.
A spokesperson said: “We believed he [Scatchard] may have had information that could have assisted our inquiries into the death of Kelly Faiers and had not given up hope that remained a possibility, until his body was discovered last week.
“We provided Kelly’s family with updates last week about a body being found at the earliest opportunity. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
“At an early stage, our Professional Standards Department was made aware of Kelly’s death in Minehead last October, and our initial response to it,” the force added.
Image source, Avon and Somerset Police
Kelly Faiers was in a relationship with Richard Scatchard
Ms Jackson said police also failed to convey accurate information to the family when Scatchard’s body was discovered.
She claims they were initially told his remains were found in woodlands, only to discover the truth upon receiving calls from journalists, after police released a public statement.
Ms Jackson said moving forward, their priority as a family was to “take the focus off him”.
“To stop seeing his face everywhere, and try to remind people that yes he’s dead, but we haven’t had closure and mum was still taken.
“She’s the focus of this, not him. She’s the reason that we’re all here.”
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