A killer who fed his neighbour to badgers could have been stopped, an investigation has found.
Graham Snell, 71, was killed in June 2019 by evil Daniel Walsh, who he had told Derbyshire Police was staying at his home uninvited and had stolen money from his bank account.
What is thought to be just a day later, Walsh killed and dismembered the pensioner and dumped his body at different locations including a badger sett, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, in an act where a judge described him as “literally feeding him to the badgers”.
Shockingly, afterwards, Walsh went on an alcohol and drugs binge with cash he’d stolen from Mr Snell and visited casinos and amusement arcades in Matlock and massage parlours in Sheffield.
He was jailed for the sick crime and is now serving a minimum term of 27 years.
An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into Derbyshire Constabulary’s contact with Mr Snell was published on Tuesday and found that Walsh could have been stopped before the killing.
The investigation found Walsh was already wanted for robbery and the police did not run checks which would have revealed that fact.
IOPC investigators also focused on police efforts to contact and safeguard Mr Snell after his visit to the police station between June 19 and 30.
Evidence gathered indicated that safeguarding opportunities were missed when the inquiry officer who spoke to Mr Snell at the station treated it as antisocial behaviour, although noting that verbal threats had allegedly been made by Walsh and Mr Snell feared he might be harmed.
The inquiry officer and police constable assigned to visit Mr Snell did not record an offence or carry out relevant checks which would have shown Walsh was wanted and had a history of violence, including against Mr Snell.
There was no answer when the constable went to Mr Snell’s address in Chesterfield on June 20 and the officer was “de-assigned” from the incident but the case remained on a tasking list.
The IOPC said a systematic error led to the constable’s supervisor and control room staff both believing the other party was dealing with the complaint, until it was randomly audited on June 29 by a control room supervisor. It still took another 26 hours for officers to be deployed.
A constable visited Mr Snell’s home on June 30 and Walsh was arrested.
IOPC regional director, Derrick Campbell said: “My sympathies are with the family of Mr Snell and all those affected by his death in the most harrowing of circumstances.
“Our investigation indicates that individuals and the systems used by the force did not recognise or respond appropriately to the risks in this case.”
"There were safeguarding failures and the opportunity to intervene promptly and effectively before Mr Snell was murdered was missed."
Mr Campbell added: “I am pleased that the force has accepted our learning recommendations designed to add clarity around the supervision, tasking and resourcing of incidents to avoid confusion over who is responsible for doing what, and to improve processes and training for carrying out risk assessments and safeguarding vulnerable people."
Although a member of police staff who initially dealt with Mr Snell was found to have a case to answer for misconduct, they have already resigned and no further action will be taken.
The IOPC also found that the constable who was originally tasked with following up Mr Snell's report had a case to answer for misconduct, and Derbyshire Police have to take management action supported by a detailed performance plan.
Another officer in a supervisory position has received further training in the management of incidents and tasking lists, although they were found to have no case to answer for misconduct.
