Mother-of-five made to swallow wedding ring before being brutally murdered by her husband was failed by police, inquest rules

A mother-of-five who was brutally murdered by her abusive husband was abandoned by two police forces before her death, an inquest has heard.

Lucy-Anne Rushton, 30, was murdered by Shaun Dyson in 2019 in a ‘protracted attack’ in which he stamped, kicked and jumped on her and made her swallow her wedding ring.

The attack was so brutal that Mrs Rushton suffered 37 rib fractures, a broken sternum and collapsed lungs when she died.

Dyson was convicted of Ms Rushton’s murder and sentenced in 2019 to life in prison, with a minimum of 17 years.

Both Dorset Police and Hampshire Constabulary missed opportunities to save the mother, including when officers visited her home just weeks before her death.

A year before she was fatally attacked, police responded to an altercation between Ms Rushton and Dyson at a hotel in Bournemouth, Dorset.

The pair were heard arguing in their room, with Dyson calling her a ‘drunk slut’.

And just a month before her death, Mrs Rushton’s concerned brother reported him to police for taking photos of him sexually assaulting her on her 30th birthday.

But none of these incidents were properly followed up by investigating forces, an inquest at Winchester Coroner’s Court heard.

Dorset Police failed to secure CCTV evidence of the hotel row, while Hampshire Constabulary failed to carry out a risk assessment.

One of Mrs Rushton’s children also made comments about violence at home at primary school, but these were not referred to children’s services.

When the case was finally referred, just days before Mrs Rushton’s death, children’s services refused the referral.

In June 2019, Dyson killed Ms Rushton during an early morning attack on her home in Andover, Hants, where he stamped, kicked and jumped on her.

Now, after a three-week inquest, the jury has delivered a unanimous narrative conclusion, highlighting the failings in the lead-up to Ms Rushton’s unlawful killing.

The jury chairman said: ‘The relationship between both parties was abusive and violent, the relationship had a material impact on her death.

‘In 2018 they were staying at a hotel in Bournemouth, 999 was called, police responded and when questioned by police [Ms Rushton] denied any altercation.

‘CCTV evidence showed a physical confrontation, this was not secured by police; three weeks later a police-issued public protection notice was filed.

“This has been received by the local government of the home country [Hampshire County Council]this is not done…

‘The children went to a local primary school, one child reported violence at home, the school did not refer this to childcare.

‘A referral was made on June 7, 2019, after major concerns the referral was rejected by child protection.

‘On May 30, photos were shared with the police, various lines of investigation were not followed and no risk analysis was completed.

‘Lucy-Anne Rushton died on June 23, 2019 as a result of a prolonged, brutal attack, Lucy-Anne Rushton was unlawfully murdered.’

A public protection notice records concerns about an adult or child that are shared between organisations.

After the jury reached their conclusion, Hampshire’s assistant coroner Darren Stuart said he plans to write a report on the prevention of future deaths, highlighting ‘shortcomings’ that give him ‘a cause for concern’ give.

He said: ‘In relation to Hampshire Police, in particular the contact with Ms Rushton on 30 May 2019, involving the passing of images and the consideration of those images, constitutes a criminal offense and the action surrounding it.

‘The failure to carry out a formal risk assessment or issue a public protection notice following the contact between police and Ms Rushton on May 31, poor decision-making and substantiation from the police on duty.

‘In relation to the school… to address the approach to record keeping, at the time, records were kept of a paper nature that was not captured in the online system.

“Failures in these areas are of concern to me regarding future deaths.”

He also sent his condolences to Mrs Rushton’s family, represented by her mother, Myra Simpson, and her son, Luke Simpson, and apologized for the time that had passed since her death.

“Five years for this process to come to an end is far too long a period of time,” Stuart said.

‘I am truly sorry that it took so long.

‘I understand this has had a profound impact on the family with young children who lose a mother.

‘I am sure the jury will join me in expressing my sincere condolences for your terrible loss.’

A tribute from Mrs Rushton’s family was read out by the coroner, Patrick Parker, at the inquest.

Mrs Rushton’s son, also called Luke, 19, said: ‘My mother was a very caring person, I have very fond 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 photos.”

“She was the best mother and loved her children more than anything in the world.

‘[Dyson] has destroyed and divided our family.”