Police Lockdown Forces Dismissal of Fatal Stalker Case

An inquiry into a stalking case, which tragically culminated in the murder of a young woman, was halted due to the reassignment of police resources for monitoring lockdown violations, an inquest revealed.

 

The victim, Gracie Spinks, aged 23, was fatally stabbed by Michael Sellers approximately four months after reporting him to Derbyshire Police in February 2021.

 

During the fifth day of the inquest into Ms. Spinks's death at Chesterfield Crown Court, Sgt. Matthew Adams, who oversaw the case initially investigated by Pc Sarah Parker, provided testimony. He explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pc Parker had been reassigned to a response team, which led to him not supervising her or the case as closely as he normally would have. Sgt. Adams admitted he had no knowledge of the stalking investigation until Pc Parker sent it to him on February 18, 2021, requesting its closure. The sergeant acknowledged that the crime report prepared by Pc Parker, on which he based his decision to close the investigation, was lacking in detail.

 

When questioned by the coroner about the absence of detail in Pc Parker's report, Sgt. Adams responded, "I was aware that Sellers had been spoken to regarding his behavior, and that's all I needed to know at that point." He asserted that, at the time, he felt it was appropriate to close the case based on the information available and believed that all "proportionate lines of inquiry" had been pursued.

 

Sgt. Adams, a 23-year veteran of Derbyshire Constabulary, disclosed that he had a verbal discussion with Pc Parker concerning the case before its closure, during which they assessed the risk Sellers posed to Ms. Spinks. However, he acknowledged that it was an "error" not to have documented this conversation. He also stated that, "in hindsight," the police should have requested a disciplinary file compiled by the e-commerce firm Xbite, where Sellers and Ms. Spinks worked together, regarding the apparent killer's behavior toward her as part of the investigation.

 

Tragically, Sellers is believed to have stabbed Ms. Spinks ten times while she was caring for her horse at Blue Lodge Farm in Duckmanton, Derbyshire, on June 18, 2021, before taking his own life. The inquest is ongoing.

 

The Johnson Partnership

Derby Crime Solicitors 

 

01332 370 473