Woman killed by 'stalker' inquest finds

An inquest has concluded a Derbyshire woman was unlawfully killed by a man she had previously reported for stalking.

Derbyshire Constabulary admitted 'serious failings' in the case.

Gracie Spinks was stabbed 10 times by 35-year-old Michael Sellers as she tended to her horse at Blue Lodge Farm in Duckmanton on June 18 2021.

His body was then found 150 metres away.

The pair met at work in 2020 and after meeting socially for a brief period, she declined to pursue a relationship, but Sellers reportedly became "obsessed" with her.

The inquest had heard that Gracie reported Sellers to their employer - after eight other women had reported him over inappropriate conduct towards them - and he was later dismissed after it was found he would repeatedly contact her against her wishes and would watch her on company CCTV.

She also reported Sellers to the police, but he was graded low risk and only given words of advice despite claiming he believed the pair were in a relationship, and being seen in a lay-by near where her horse was stabled in January 2021.

In May 2021, a bag of weapons including knives, an axe, a hammer, Viagra tablets and a note saying "don't lie" was found by a member of the public on a bridleway near where Ms Spinks' horse was stabled, but this was also dismissed by police.

Several police officers have given evidence in the inquest, with one saying the weapons should clearly have been a "concern".

While Detective Superintendent Darren De'ath, who leads Derbyshire Constabulary's public protection team, told the inquest he "deeply regrets" what happened to her.

He said:

"I want to give a formal apology to Gracie's family and friends.

"I deeply regret what has happened, I deeply regret that we could and should have done better.

"I understand it is no consolation to yourselves but I am truly sorry."

He said he had attended the inquest every day so he could go back to the force and give updates about where they need to "do better" when handling stalking and harassment cases.

He said:

"I'm really sorry it had to come to this for us to have this learning, perhaps we should have come to that conclusion without this happening, but sadly it didn't.

"There is learning and there has been a lot of work done to make sure the learning has been embraced."

Mr De'ath said he was "appalled" at the way the force had "failed" to record and retain information in connection to Gracie's report of stalking in February 2021, and dog walker Anna White's report of a bag of weapons she found on a farm track the month before Gracie was killed.

"I know whatever I say won't make things easier, but please take that I am truly sorry."

Gracie was described as a "beautiful soul" and an "amazing and unique person" in tributes from family and friends, with jurors wearing pink and purple wristbands before they retired in her memory.

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