Richard Scatchard, a man who drugged and killed multiple women over 40 years, including his partner Kelly Faiers in 2023, was released from prison on licence in 2013 despite being considered a danger to women. One of his victims, Krystyna, has come forward to speak about her experience, stating that she feared Scatchard would kill her and believes he should not have been freed. According to the National Crime Agency, there is an "urgent need" to address the growing international issue of men drugging and raping women. Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, says drug-facilitated sexual abuse has been hidden in plain sight for many years and more needs to be done to tackle this form of domestic abuse.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
- 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.
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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.
