An investigation has concluded that two police forces failed a mother of five who was brutally murdered by her violent husband before her death.
Lucy-Anne Rushton, 30, was murdered by Shaun Dyson in a “prolonged attack” in 2019 during which he stomped, kicked and jumped on her and made her swallow her wedding ring.
He was convicted of Ms Rushton’s murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 17 years.
Both Dorset Police and Hampshire Police missed opportunities to save the mother, even when officers visited her home just weeks before her death.
A year before she was fatally attacked, police responded to an altercation between Rushton and Dyson at a hotel in Bournemouth, Dorset.
The couple were heard arguing in their bedroom and Dyson called her a “drunk whore”.
And just a month before her death, Rushton’s worried brother reported Dyson to the police for taking photographs of him sexually abusing her on her 30th birthday.
But none of these incidents were adequately followed up by investigating forces, according to an inquest at Winchester Coroner’s Court.
Dorset Police failed to obtain CCTV evidence of the altercation at the hotel, while Hampshire Police failed to complete a risk assessment.
One of Ms Rushton’s children also made comments in primary school about domestic violence which were not referred to children’s services.
When the matter was finally referred, just days before Ms Rushton’s death, children’s services refused the referral.
Mother-of-five Lucy-Anne Rushton, who was brutally murdered by her violent husband, failed two police forces, a primary school and children’s services.
Shaun Dyson murdered 30-year-old woman in ‘prolonged attack’ during which he made her swallow her wedding ring
Dyson killed Ms Rushton in an early morning assault at her home in Andover in June 2019. Rushton and Dyson are pictured on their wedding day.
In June 2019, Dyson killed Ms Rushton in the early morning assault at her home in Andover, Hants, where he stomped, kicked and jumped on her.
Now, after a three-week investigation, the jury has recorded a unanimous narrative conclusion highlighting failings in the lead-up to Ms Rushton’s unlawful killing.
The jury foreman said: “The relationship between both parties was abusive and violent, the relationship had a material impact on his death.”
‘In 2018 they were staying at a hotel in Bournemouth, a 999 call was made, the police responded and when questioned she (Ms Rushton) denied any altercation.
‘CCTV evidence showed a physical confrontation, this was not ensured by the police, three weeks later a public protection notice issued by the police was filed.
‘This was received by the parent local authority (Hampshire County Council) but no action was taken…
‘The children attended a local primary school, one child reported domestic violence, the school did not refer the matter to children’s services.
Murder victim Lucy-Anne Rushton with her mother Myra Simpson
‘A referral was made on 7 June 2019, following significant concerns children’s services refused the referral.
‘On May 30, concerning photographs were shared with police, several lines of inquiry were not pursued and a risk assessment was not completed.
“Lucy-Anne Rushton died on June 23, 2019 as a result of a brutal and prolonged attack. Lucy-Anne Rushton was unlawfully murdered.”
A public protection notice records the safeguarding concerns of an adult or child that are shared between organisations.
Speaking after the jury delivered its conclusion, Hampshire assistant coroner Darren Stuart said he plans to write a future death prevention report highlighting “deficiencies” which give him “cause for concern”.
He said: ‘In relation to Hampshire Police, the contact with Ms Rushton on 30 May 2019, in particular, with the transmission of images and the consideration of those images as a criminal offense and the actions around that.
‘Failure to complete a formal risk assessment or issue a public protection notice following contact between police and Ms Rushton on May 31, poor decision making and justification by police on duty.
‘In relation to the school…to address the record keeping approach, at that time paper records were kept which were not recorded in the online system.
“Failures in relation to those deficiencies are a cause for concern in relation to future deaths.”
He also expressed his condolences to Rushton’s family, represented by his mother, Myra Simpson, and son, Luke Simpson, and apologized for the time that had passed since his death.
“Five years to see the end of this process is too long a period,” Mr Stuart said.
‘I’m sincerely sorry it took so long.
‘I understand this has had a profound impact on families with young children who lose a mother.
“I am sure the jury will join me in expressing my deepest condolences for your terrible loss.”
During the inquest, coroner’s officer Patrick Parker read a tribute from Ms Rushton’s family.
Rushton’s son, also called Luke, 19, said: “My mother was a very loving person, I have very happy memories of her taking us on holiday to Spain.”
“I will remember her as someone who made people laugh, she was a brilliant mother.”
The tribute continued: ‘Lucy was murdered in the most disturbing way.
“All we have are memories and photographs.”
‘She was the best mother and loved her children more than anything in the world.
“(Dyson) has destroyed and divided our family.”