Richard Scatchard: Body in caravan thought to be wanted sex offender

Police believe the body discovered inside a caravan is Richard Scatchard

A body found inside a caravan is thought to be that of a sex offender wanted for questioning over his partner's death, police have said.

Richard Scatchard, 70, was wanted on recall to prison and over the death of Kelly Faiers at his home in Minehead on 15 October 2023.

Police were called by a member of the public at 14:00 BST on Thursday who reported finding a man's body inside a caravan in Watchet, Somerset.

A post-mortem will be carried out.

Police discovered the body of a man in a caravan in Watchet on Thursday 4 April

Avon and Somerset Police said the body, found near Cleeve Hill, is "likely" to be Mr Scatchard.

Det Supt Gary Haskins, of the major crime investigation team, said they believe the man's death "occurred some time ago".

Police had been searching for Scatchard, from Minehead, who had not been seen since 16 October 2023, despite about 100 unconfirmed sightings.

Kelly Faiers was in a relationship with Richard Scatchard

"Kelly's family have been informed of the latest development and we will keep them, and Richard Scatchard's family, updated as our enquiries progress," Det Supt Haskins said.

"Specialist family liaison officers continue to provide support to Kelly's family at this difficult time.

"A forensic post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course.

"Until that has been completed we will be treating the man's death as unexplained, albeit we are not aware of any suspicious circumstances at this time."

The force previously warned that Scatchard, who was convicted of sexual offences in which he administered drugs to his victims, posed a serious risk to women he formed relationships with.

Ms Faiers, 61, from Weston-super-Mare, met Mr Scatchard on a dating app and on 14 October they went out together for the evening.

Mr Scatchard called the ambulance service to his home address in Blenheim Road at 04.15 GMT on 15 October, reporting Ms Faiers as critically ill. She was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Police also went to the property and spoke to Mr Scatchard. They returned the following day but he had disappeared.

The last confirmed sighting of Richard Scatchard was on 16 October

Police said he travelled to Watchet and the last confirmed sighting of him on CCTV was in the Swain Street area at about 09:00 GMT on 16 October.

He was then seen near his home address in Minehead by a member of the public about an hour later.

A post-mortem examination to determine the cause of Ms Faiers' death was inconclusive and her death is being treated as suspicious.

On 20 December, the family of Ms Faiers made a complaint about the police response to her death to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The force voluntarily referred the complaint to the IOPC on 4 January.