Article: published on 16 January 2024

Specialist police officers have joined the hunt for a 'dangerous' man wanted in connection with a woman's death.

The last confirmed sighting of convicted sex offender Richard Scatchard, 70, was three months ago - the day after Kelly Faiers death, which is being treated as murder.

Since his disappearance, there have been more than 300 enquiries by Avon and Somerset Police, including speaking to witnesses and obtaining CCTV.

Scatchard was last seen on Swain Street in Watchet on 16 October and was later spotted outside his home in Minehead.

Ms Faiers was found "critically ill" at Scatchard's home and pronounced dead by paramedics on 15 October.

Avon and Somerset Police spoke to Scatchard in the early hours of the morning, but when they returned the next day to ask him more questions he was not there.

The force said it has now called on specialist teams to assist the search for him.

It comes as the family of Ms Faiers said they feel "angry and let down" that Scatchard was not properly questioned immediately after her death.

Avon and Somerset Police said it has referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct and is assisting with an investigation into the case.

Supt Lisa Simpson said: "Our priority remains to find Scatchard alive and arrest him and any public information to help us achieve that aim will be gladly received.

"We wish to question Scatchard about what happened to Kelly in the hours leading up to her death, information we desperately want to be able to give her family.

"We have spoken with both Kelly's family and Scatchard's and been honest with them that there have been three months without proof of him being alive and that is an extremely long time.

"While these searches are partly being carried out with that in mind, we remain open minded that Scatchard may well still be alive and do not give up hope someone can provide crucial information that leads to his arrest."

There have been approximately 100 unconfirmed sightings of Scatchard, predominantly in West Somerset, police said.

However, many of those turned out to be different people or were dismissed due to a lack of evidence.

Supt Simpson said that searches "on land and from the air" were conducted once they learned of Scatchard’s disappearance.

"We have worked with expert teams to plan a series of key searches over the coming weeks," she said.

"These will be concentrating on a mix of previously covered areas, plus some more remote parts where access would be difficult or impossible without specialist training and equipment.

"We are conscious that after three months of no confirmed sightings or proof of life, that crucial clues as to what has happened to Scatchard may be found in a more inaccessible location, especially if he has come to harm, which a member of the public or previous searches would not ordinarily come across."