An inquest has found that two separate police forces both failed a mum-of-five who was beaten to death in her home – Lucy-Anne Rushton was brutally murdered in 2019
An inquest into the death of a mum who was forced to swallow her wedding ring before she was beaten to death by her husband ruled police failed her.
Lucy-Anne Rushton was failed by both Dorset Police and Hampshire Constabulary before she was killed by Shaun Dyson on June 23, 2019. Lucy was killed when Dyson kicked, punched and stamped on her repeatedly, leaving her with a broken breastbone, collapsed lungs and 37 rib fractures.
Lucy, a mum of five, was killed at her home in Andover, Hampshire, and her children were present at the time. Dyson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 17 years.
The inquest heard that Lucy’s brother had gone to police in May 2023 to report Dyson for taking photos of himself sexually abusing her on her 30th birthday.
Officers had also been called a year before after an altercation where Dyson was heard calling his wife a “drunken slut”. A guest of a hotel in Bournemouth said they saw Lucy with her face and hands covered in blood and told security.
During the trial, Simon Jones, prosecuting, said that Dyson had become “enraged” by a phone call 30-year-old Ms Rushton received from a man she had been in a relationship with.
He said: “This was a brutal, violent and unlawful attack. Lucy was killed by the defendant and the pathologist confirmed that this was a prolonged and very severe beating involving repeated stamping, jumping and kicking.”
A child witness also described how Dyson tried to force Ms Rushton to swallow her wedding ring.
Today, a jury recorded a unanimous narrative conclusion highlighting the failings in the lead up to Ms Rushton’s unlawful killing. The jury chair read: “The relationship between both parties was abusive and violent, the relationship made a material impact on her death.
“In 2018 they were staying at a hotel in Bournemouth, a 999 call was made, police responded and when questioned by police [Ms Rushton] denied any altercation. CCTV evidence showed a physical confrontation, this was not secured by police, a public protection notice issued by the police was submitted three weeks after.
“This was received by the home local authority [Hampshire County Council], this was not actioned…The children attended a local primary school, one child reported violence at home, the school did not refer this to child services. A referral was made on 7 June, 2019, following sizeable concerns, the referral was declined by child services.
“On 30 May, concerning photos were shared with the police, several lines of inquiry were not followed and a risk assessment was not completed. Lucy-Anne Rushton died on 23 June 2019 as a result of a prolonged, brutal attack, Lucy-Anne Rushton was unlawfully killed.”
Myra Simpson, Lucy’s devastated mum, said after the inquest that her daughter was “failed by professionals who could have stepped in to help”.
She added: “Her death has broken our family, and I miss her every day.”
The assistant coroner for Hampshire, Darren Stuart, said he planned to write a prevention of future deaths report. He said there was a “poor decision making and rationale by police on duty”.
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