Police should be held to account, says victim's son

David Brickwood, a 74-year-old scrap metal dealer, was stabbed and beaten at his home on 26 September 2015

The son of a scrap dealer who was killed 10 years ago said police needed to be "held accountable" after investigative failings were found.

David Brickwood, 74, was stabbed and beaten at his home in Abington, Northampton, on 26 September 2015 and died in hospital from his injuries.

A report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found Northamptonshire Police did not pursue forensic leads during the initial investigation, which "would have potentially strengthened the case".

Mr Brickwood's son, Dale, said he planned to take legal action and wanted forensic evidence to be re-examined.

Northamptonshire Police said it "completely understands" the frustration of Mr Brickwood's family and that the investigation remained open.

"That was my dad; he was brutally murdered, and it sickens me," he said.

"I intend to try and sue them because I just think it's a disgrace; because this has happened to my family, it [could] happen to others.

"I would like someone with a bit of decency about them to review all the forensics that the police left locked up for four years and to go through it – I believe that's the key to solving this."

Dale Brickwood said he planned to take legal action because the police "need to be held accountable"

On the night of the incident, Mr Brickwood managed to call the emergency services and was taken to hospital, where he later died.

An inquest heard he had 35 separate injuries, including blunt trauma wounds, muscle tearing and stab wounds.

Northamptonshire Police made a series of arrests, but it was only in 2020 that a man was charged with murder and burglary.

However, a judge ruled at Birmingham Crown Court in 2021 that DNA evidence in the case was "plainly insufficient", and the defendant was cleared.

'Missed opportunities'

Earlier this year, an IOPC report found the force had missed opportunities to pursue forensic evidence in 2016.

The report said "it is possible" that had this been pursued earlier, other evidence would have been made available, such as house and vehicle searches, which were no longer available in 2020.

It added this "would potentially have strengthened the case and identified other suspects and/or led to conviction(s)".

The watchdog ruled that while there "was no evidence of individual failures amounting to misconduct, the service provided by Northamptonshire Police was unacceptable".

Mr Brickwood added he wanted the police to find the person responsible for his father's death and get them into court.

"I have lost so many years of my life, not being able to go and face anyone, I lost my livelihood because of the post-traumatic stress and all the things that go with it," he said.

"This is ten years down the line, the case is a cold case, it's been shelved, so all they do is fob us off."

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police added: "No unsolved investigation is ever closed and we would continue to encourage anyone with information which could help us deliver justice for David's family to please get in touch."