- Published
A man who drugged multiple women over a 40-year period and eventually killed his partner should never have been released from prison, according to one of his victims.
uncertain
who → publish → victims
Richard Scatchard was jailed twice but released from prison on licence in 2013.
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Scatchard → jail → 2013
He went on to kill Kelly Faiers in 2023, by coercing her into taking sleeping tablets after drinking alcohol.
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He → go → alcohol
Some experts and a former police detective believe he should not have been free to kill her, having shown signs he was a danger to women.
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he → believe → women
Krystyna, 70, has waived her legal right to anonymity to speak publicly for the first time about her abuse by Scatchard.
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Krystyna → waive → Scatchard
He went on the run after Kelly's death, and was found dead in a caravan park six months later.
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He → go → park
The National Crime Agency has said there is an "urgent need" to deal with what it said is a growing international issue of men drugging and raping women - sometimes filming the assaults and posting them online.
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men → say → them
'I feared he would kill me'
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he → fear → me
"I went from having a safe, happy life to not having a life," says Krystyna.
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Krystyna → go → life
She became friends with Scatchard in 1997 and used to walk his dog and go for meals with him.
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She → become → him
But soon Scatchard invited her into his home, encouraging her to drink wine - which unbeknown to Krystyna he'd drugged.
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he → invite → Krystyna
Krystyna recalls: "When I used to be coming round, I'd have no clothes on."
"I knew what he was doing was really bad.
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doing → recall → what
I didn't dare open my eyes because I thought if I did, he might kill me," she adds.
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she → dare → me
At first, Krystyna didn't tell anyone what was happening, partly out of shame and partly out of denial.
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what → tell → denial
But when Scatchard started to stalk and harass her, she went to police and revealed her belief he was drugging her.
"
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he → start → her
I told them about how I'd have to stop my car on the way home because I was being sick in the hedge and my car was all over the show on the motorway."
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car → tell → motorway
Scatchard was arrested for drugging Krystyna and two other women.
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Scatchard → arrest → Krystyna
He'd filmed his crimes, and was given four life sentences at Warrington Crown Court in 2000.
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He → film → 2000
Krystyna says: "I was told by a professional afterwards that it was on his agenda to kill me."
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it → say → me
She believes Scatchard should never have been released from prison, saying the judge in his summing-up said "he would always be a danger to women".
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he → believe → women
The whole experience has been life-changing for Krystyna.
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experience → change → Krystyna
She lost friends, her job and even ended up homeless for a period of time because of the stigma and effect on her.
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She → lose → her
Scatchard, originally from Scotland, was previously jailed in 1986 after drugging and attempting to kidnap a woman he knew.
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he → jail → woman
He ran her over with his car, and when police searched it, they reported finding a body bag inside.
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they → run → bag
Dame Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales says his case demonstrates how drug-facilitated sexual abuse has been "hidden in plain sight for many years".
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abuse → say → years
She believes more needs to be done to tackle what she calls a "horrific form of domestic abuse".
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she → believe → abuse
Dame Nicole also says Scatchard's story raises serious questions about whether the systems for monitoring and managing dangerous abusers are strong enough to prevent repeat offending.
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systems → say → offending
Her concerns are shared by a former police detective who worked on Krystyna's case in 2000.
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who → share → 2000
Marcia, who did not want her full name used, also believes Scatchard should not have been released from prison in 2013.
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Scatchard → want → 2013
"We have a serial rapist who has never changed their MO (modus operandi) and always behaved in the way they've behaved," she says.
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she → have → way
"Why someone thought all of a sudden he would change for no reason is beyond me.
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he → think → me
It's a shame that the criminal justice system does let itself down when it comes to serial offenders like him.
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it → let → him
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'Devious' behaviour
BBC West Investigations has obtained a copy of the notes from Scatchard's parole hearing.
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Investigations → obtain → hearing
While they acknowledge some of his behaviour was still problematic, it was decided his risk of reoffending had been reduced enough for him to be released - with 10 licence conditions.
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him → acknowledge → conditions
These included declaring relationships to his probation officer and not contacting previous victims.
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These → include → victims
In 2020, he moved to Minehead in Somerset and met Kelly Faiers on a dating app in 2022.
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he → move → 2022
He breached his licence conditions by not declaring their relationship, and using a second mobile phone to hide his dating site activity.
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He → breach → activity
Police were allowed to search his phone but were unaware of his second device.
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Police → allow → device
His deceit also included not telling Kelly his real name, calling himself Richard Dunlop.
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deceit → include → himself
An inquest in July concluded Kelly had been unlawfully killed after being coerced into taking too many sleeping tablets after drinking alcohol.
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Kelly → conclude → alcohol
…and 25 more, not listed.
The Aporia
