Thames Valley Police officers awarded for Anthony Sootheran murder case

Police officers have received commendations for their work solving the murder of a millionaire.

Anthony Sootheran, 59, died in 2014. Three years later, Thames Valley Police launched an investigation after his bank card was used.

The force discovered Lynda Rickard, 62, had been a tenant at Mr Sootheran's farm near South Newington, Oxfordshire.

She was convicted of starving him to death in order to inherit part of his £3.5m estate.

Rickard was jailed for a minimum of 28 years, while her husband, Wayne Rickard, 67, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years for his role in Mr Sootheran's death.

A number of officers and staff at Thames Valley Police have been awarded one of the force's highest honours, a commendation from Chief Constable Jason Hogg, for their work on the case.

Det Supt Andy Howard said the investigation was "particularly challenging" as it only started three years after Mr Sootheran's death.

He explained: "There'd already been an investigation following his death in 2014, which actually deemed his death to be natural causes, involving an inquest and conclusion as well.

"It was only when further financial impropriety came to light, that it raised concerns with a barrister working for the Crown Prosecution Service at the time, which required police to take a review of the circumstances of Anthony's case."

Det Supt Howard said Mr Sootheran was "very traditional" and "didn't inhabit the online space".

Officers scoured more than 20,000 pages of evidence, which spanned a timeframe of 20 years, and had help from the Economic Crime Unit and a chartered accountant.

Det Supt Howard continued: "It was a case that relied on lots of documentation, lots of inquiries around medical records, financial records. This wasn't a case that relied on CCTV or mobile phone evidence such as we may rely on in more modern day investigations.

"One of the complexities particularly was that Anthony was a very vulnerable man, he was somebody that we knew had suffered with mental health problems over a number of years and that, as it turned out, provided Lynda Rickard with the cover and basis to commit the crimes she did."

The investigation also required handwriting analysis and forensic interrogation of financial accounts and medical records to prove Lynda Rickard had defrauded and forged the wills of the Sootherans and then also deliberately starved Anthony Sootheran to death.

On receiving the commendation, Det Supt Howard said it was "difficult" to take pleasure or satisfaction when the job involved investigating the loss of a life "in very tragic circumstances".

He added: "But certainly can take a sense of pride in achieving justice for Anthony, his family and friends and hopefully trying to provide some reassurance to the community."

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