A creepy stalker believed to have killed model Gracie Spinks in a murder-suicide would use binoculars to spy on women.
Neighbours of Michael Sellers told how the “weird loner” would stand at a window in his parents’ house and peer at neighbours using the kit.
Sellers, 35, is thought to have fatally attacked former work colleague Gracie, 23, as she tended to her horse, Paddy.
Shortly after her body was found he was discovered dead in fields half a mile away.
Friends have told how Sellers became obsessed with Gracie following a date and continued to turn up at the stables.
This week, his neighbours spoke of his odd behaviour. One, who asked not to be named, said: “I found him a little strange. He would never speak or give you eye contact if he saw you in the street.
“He would spy on people from his parents’ home, especially women. I’m convinced I once caught him looking at me through a pair of binoculars.
“A friend told me she thought he followed her once. It was really creepy behaviour. He wasn’t a bad-looking lad – just odd. It’s terrible what happened.”
Another neighbour said: “I always said he was a little strange. He’d never speak to anyone but just stare. It’s scary that someone living so close to us could have murdered a woman.
“I have a daughter and I’m glad he didn’t speak to her.”
One of his co-workers said: “He was strange. He became very weird at work – staring at people. The women became wary of him. Hardly anyone liked him. He was a real loner.”
Horse-lover Gracie, 23, was found near a farm in Duckmanton, Derbyshire, on Friday, June 18.
The pair were work colleagues at Xbite Ltd – an e-commerce firm in Chesterfield. But Sellers was sacked from his warehouse job after becoming a “nuisance” to Gracie.
She contacted police to say she was being stalked by Sellers. Derbyshire police are to be investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the contact they had with Gracie prior to her death.
One of Gracie’s work friends claimed: “It’s going around that she had a stalker who was totally obsessed with her. He wouldn’t take no for an answer so she got a restraining order out against him.”
In a heartbreaking tribute, Gracie’s mum, Alison Heaton, wrote on Facebook : “My beautiful daughter Gracie taken away from me, her dad and brother and sister and everyone who loved and cared for her.”
Mrs Heaton added broken heart and crying emojis and changed her Facebook profile picture to a photo of her daughter with a pink frame stating: “Stop violence against women, justice for women.”
She wants people to support a petition to be sent to Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for a “Gracie’s Law” demanding harsher punishment for stalkers, especially those who threaten life.
The IOPC said: “We can confirm we are independently investigating the prior police contact between Gracie Spinks and Derbyshire Police.
“As our investigation is in its early stages, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. Our thoughts remain with Gracie’s family, friends and anyone else affected by her death.”
