Richard Scatchard's Victim States 2023 Killing of Kelly Faiers Was Avoidable
A woman drugged and raped by Richard Scatchard has asserted that his killing of Kelly Faiers in 2023 was avoidable. Scatchard, 70, died in December 2023, having been sought in connection with Ms Faiers's death in Minehead, Somerset.
Ms Faiers's body was discovered at a residential property in Minehead on 15 October 2023. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death was propofol toxicity.
Scatchard, who used various aliases including Richard James, had a significant history of offences. He was convicted in 1993 for drugging and raping a woman, receiving a nine-year prison sentence. His 2021 release from prison occurred after serving time for another drugging and rape conviction. Furthermore, he faced accusations of non-fatal strangulation related to an incident earlier in 2023.
One of his victims, who has remained anonymous, expressed to journalists that authorities should have been more proactive in managing Scatchard given his repeated offending. She detailed how Scatchard drugged and raped her in 1992, describing a lengthy legal battle to secure his conviction.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that Scatchard was wanted for Ms Faiers's murder and for breaching his prison licence. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the police force's handling of the case, specifically their response to information concerning Ms Faiers's welfare and the subsequent search for Scatchard.
