Gracie Spinks inquest: Weapons bag finder shocked by police reaction

A woman who found weapons belonging to murderer Michael Sellers has told an inquest she was "totally shocked at the lack of reaction" by police.

The rucksack of weapons was found near to where Sellers killed Gracie Spinks in Duckmanton, Derbyshire, six weeks later, before killing himself.

An inquest into Miss Spinks's death has previously heard that police did not investigate the bag and its contents.

Anna White, who found the bag, has now given her evidence to the inquest.

When the coroner asked what her impression of the bag was, she replied: "That it weren't normal to have that type of thing in a bag and I think with the note [saying 'Don't lie!'], more than anything, that rang alarm bells.

"There were weapons, obviously, but it was the note that made me think 'This is intended to be used to hurt somebody'."

Miss White found the bag of weapons while taking her dog for a walk on 6 May 2021.

She told the inquest she spotted it down what she described as "a farmer's track".

She took the bag home, took the contents out, contacted police on 101, then two officers came to her house.

Miss White said: "I asked what would be done with it and I was told it would probably go to lost property, and I think one of the officers mentioned it might be for geocaching.

"In my head at the time I thought there might be DNA on the bottle. I was told 'No, that won't be happening', it would go to lost property.

"I think I were totally shocked at the lack of reaction really."

The contents of the bag included three knives, an axe, a hammer, and a packet of Viagra.

After the bag was found, Sellers bought similar weapons and then murdered Miss Spinks on 18 June 2021.

After her murder, Derbyshire Police asked Det Ch Insp Claudia Musson to consider the contents of the bag and how it could have been investigated at the time it was found.

The coroner asked Det Ch Insp Musson what her impression of the contents was.

She replied: "They are weapons. My view looking at them is they are weapons.

"There's obviously concern about [the note saying] 'Don't lie!', but for me, my concern is that it was a bag of weapons with Viagra, and that gives you sexual intent, and weapons to be used in violence. That was my take on those items."

She added: "I'm fully aware that I'm a detective of some years with the benefit of time and more experience than the officers who dealt with the incident, so as much as possible I've put myself in their shoes.

"However, I don't think anyone who has actually seen those items can reasonably argue that they are not weapons to cause somebody harm."

Det Ch Insp Musson then told the inquest about what would have been reasonable lines of enquiry following the discovery of the bag.

She said police could have conducted house-to-house inquiries in the area, a press appeal, and also considered having the bag and its contents forensically examined.

Det Ch Insp Musson said the bag could have been traced back to Sellers from an M&S receipt found inside, which had his father's card details on.

She explained the police computer system would have shown Sellers as living at the same address as his father, and would also have shown that Miss Spinks had previously reported Sellers to the police.

The inquest continues.

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