Gracie Spinks, another bloody failure of women- murdered by her stalker

[MichelleScarn]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/gracie-spinks-michael-sellers-stalking-b2448310.html

Apologies if a thread already.
I hope this is OK to post and I don't upset or offend anyone close to Gracie, but she had reported her fears about this man to police, a bag containing an axe, hunting knives, Viagra, and a note that read 'Don't lie' had been found yards from where she was later killed. But according to reports I've read, police were diverted from looking into this and investigating 'lock down breaches' instead. The stalking became so difficult that Gracie and the killers joint employer ceased his contract.
I'm just saddened and maddened her fears and concerns weren't properly investigated, I'm not even sure why am posting, but I can't imagine how her family must feel.

Eight other women voiced concerns about this man to the police but they did nothing.

But if someone says they've been misgendered - then suddenly the police have all the time in the world to run an investigation.

Unbelievable.

That poor woman and her family. Stalking really needs to be socially pilloried.

How many women have to die before this sort of behaviour is taken seriously?

I'm not the least bit shocked that the police were busy harassing people on their way to work instead of dealing with the nutjob that murdered this poor woman.

The same story of neglect and lack of care for what women report to the police. Every time.

I think I read that it was 8 other women complained about this man's inappropriate behaviour at Gracie's work, and HR did at least take it seriously resulting in his dismissal? But the police decided not to speak to the employer in relation to the stalking complaint. Because stalking still isn't taken seriously.

I've read a different article which stated that eight other women directly contacted the police about this man. I didn't get the impression that all of them were colleagues.

In the Telegraph it says,

"During the inquest, it emerged he had previously harassed at least eight other women.

It can also now be revealed that despite the catalogue of errors admitted by Derbyshire Police, none of the officers involved will be sacked for their actions."

I still haven't found the first report I read but The Mail says,

"The inquest heard 'obsessed' Sellers had in fact harassed a total of eight women before Ms Spinks, at least four of whom had raised his conduct with Xbite."

So there's clearly more to it than Gracie's colleagues raising it with HR.

So that'll be 8 women who actually reported it? Wonder how many didn't report because they knew it'd be ignored!
Police too bloody busy investigating covid breach reports is shameful.

The first time I reported my stalker to the police, the officer taking the call actually laughed.

My stalker eventually went on to try to kill me and two female colleagues. Even then the police only took it seriously because luckily the officer in charge said I reminded him of his daughter.

Women's very valid concerns about stalkers and flashers are just not taken seriously enough.

Of course they won't.

I'm sure lessons will be learned though eh?

For anyone interested in the case, the first link contains Gracie's call to the police and the second one is a pretty damning report on the officer that 'handled' the complaint.

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/crime/this-is-gracie-spinks-call-to-police-reporting-her-stalker-who-months-later-stabbed-her-to-death-4395747?fbclid=IwAR10RciY7tC05gIf6YHOtzZkAa4YRIXixVbssZBglOlgZt0RlaQvWZVhsTE

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/crime/police-officer-deemed-gracie-spinks-killer-michael-sellars-low-risk-inquest-hears-4395375

@ChuffKnows I think I'll need to pour a glass of wine before I can face those, thanks for sharing.

@MichelleScarn I nearly forgot this one. The disregarded bag of weapons with not only dna evidence but also a traceable receipt. Unbelievable 😔

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-67369878.amp

9 reports... and she was still murdered after a "bit of advice".

How many complaints is too many?

Is one death even enough for them to do more than an initial chat?

How many is too many?

Her employer did something about it. They deserve recognition for dealing with it promptly and effectively and not waiting for the stabbing to happen on their premises.

it boils my blood that women go through this time and time again, at the hands of men, and yet the police pander to men who put dresses on, and demand access to our safe spaces.

The police guidelines on stalking surely can't actually be 'we'll know if they're a serious problem and need dealing with when they harm a woman'. But they might as fucking well be.

I can't believe the officers involved will not be sacked - why? So they can go on and let this happen to another woman? Let another murderous man get away with it, like they did with Couzens too (who had as many red flags as a bunting factory including committing an actual crime - flashing - with a huge amount of evidence, reported by the MacDonalds employees and just ignored)?

It's obvious at this point that the police service is packed to the brim with male abusers who are being enabled and suffer no consequences at all for letting other abusers commit crimes. They're all protecting each other. And nothing ever changes, nothing has happened as a result of Couzens and Carrick except some weasel words. They're still arresting women for lawful opinions wasting huge amounts of police resources and refusing to do anything about stalking and violent threats towards women.

I think those on the receiving end need to start taking individual officers to civil trials because that's really the only option now with a police force as corrupted as ours is.

It's just outrageous that nothing was done in this case and that the rucksack full of weapons was not investigated but placed in lost property (presumably so the abusive man planning to use it to hurt a woman can get it back and save money?).

Increasingly the police appear to be a tool that abusers use to further their ends (thinking Caroline Farrow) more than anything else.

How many women would have had to complain about Gracie's killer before they did anything, or doesn't it matter? They were just never going to bother?