Andover murder leads to call for more information sharing

"There is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken," according to Hampshire coroner Darren Stewart, in his Prevention of Future Death Report concerning the killing of Lucy-Anne Rushton.

The 30-year-old Suffolk Road resident was killed by her estranged husband, Shaun Dyson, 28, in a "prolonged" and "brutal" attack at her home in June 2019.

In December 2019, he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 17 years.

Shaun Dyson and Lucy-Anne Rushton(Image: )

Writing to the Secretary of State for Education, Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, Mr Stewart said: "During the course of the investigation, my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern.

"In my opinion, there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.

"In the circumstances, it is my statutory duty to report to you. The matters of concern are as follows:

"The lack of a national interface to enable reporting/communication between schools using safeguarding record keeping systems (e.g. CPOMS) and relevant agencies, including Police and Children’s Services.

"The lack of national guidance/standards means agencies with safeguarding duties for children are receiving referrals that either rely too heavily on the individual referrer’s judgement about what should be included, or where no referral is made at all."

In his report, Mr Stewart said: "Lucy-Anne Rushton was in a relationship with her husband for 9 years until they separated at the beginning of 2019.

"They were married in 2014, after which the relationship became dysfunctional and toxic.

"They had two children together, and the father still maintained regular contact with the children and Ms Rushton at the home.

"Whilst this was ongoing, the nature of the relationship between both parties was abusive and at times violent.

"The relationship made a material contribution to Lucy Rushton’s death."

In a 2018 incident, according to the coroner, police were called to a hotel in Bournemouth following "reports of an altercation."

When questioned, Ms Rushton made no complaint, and the police did not secure CCTV evidence showing the physical confrontation.

Dorset Police submitted a Public Protection Notice [PPN], which raised a safeguarding concern.

Hampshire County Council, Mr Stewart said, did not action the PPN "due to it being confused as a duplicate of another, unrelated PPN concerning one of Ms Rushton’s children."

In 2019, the couple's children spoke up in school a number of times about the violence they witnessed.

On two occasions, the local school they attended did not make a report, and on one occasion, a referral was not accepted by children's services.

On May 30 2019, Mr Stewart said: "A complaint was made to police in relation to allegations concerning images taken of Ms Rushton by her estranged husband on his mobile telephone."

He continued: "A formal risk assessment [...] was not completed and no Public Protection Notice in relation to the incident raised, the matter being closed following Ms Rushton denying any offence having been committed when she was spoken to by police."

The Secretary of State has until October 29 to respond.