Police and probation admit failings in murder case

Police and probation services have admitted failings and "lost opportunities" over the disappearance and murder of a teenager, a pre-inquest review has heard.

Leah Croucher, 19, disappeared while walking to work on February 15 2019 and her remains were discovered in a house in Milton Keynes, less than half a mile from her home, in October 2022.

Prime suspect Neil Maxwell was a wanted and previously-convicted sex offender who killed himself while on the run from police in April 2019, two months after Ms Croucher vanished.

Senior coroner at Milton Keynes Coroner's Court, Tom Osborne, said the inquest would look at admitted failings by the police and probation services that had not yet been specified publicly.

Internal reviews had been carried out and the court heard that a redacted report on the Thames Valley Police investigation included about 250 documents.

Mr Osborne said if the failings had not been sufficiently amended, then a report to prevent future deaths would be ordered, in which he could tell organisations, government departments and individuals what action needed to be taken.

Mr Osborne said such a report could help fulfil the Croucher family's wish that "we do not want another family going through what we've been through".

He added: "If I am satisfied that those failings and concerns have been addressed satisfactorily by further statements from police and probation, then I no longer have that duty to make those points."

Maxwell was the only person with keys to the property on Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, where Ms Croucher's body was found.

He was wanted for a sex attack in Newport Pagnell in November 2018, and used false names to evade arrest, as well as stopping using his phone and car.

Officers believe he also lost weight and grew a beard to change his appearance.

In January 2023, Thames Valley Police released a computer generated e-fit of Maxwell as detectives tried to confirm he had killed Ms Croucher.

Caroline Haughey KC, representing the family, told the court she was the only lawyer who would volunteer without a fee.

After the hearing, she said she was representing the family pro bono because they could not afford counsel and "otherwise they would have no-one".

She added: "Why should their misery be compounded by failings in the process?

"Leah was walking to work to carry on a normal day and because of failings, that predator was on the street - he should never have been at large."

She said the family had been "subject to vitriol and trauma" online with social media users falsely accusing some members of being involved in Ms Croucher's death.

The inquest will be heard on June 19 and 20.

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