‘Staggering’ number of domestic abuse victims taking own lives
The vast majority of suspects in domestic abuse cases where the victim has taken their own life are known to the police, according to a new report.
Over the past four years, data shows that 92% of suspects in cases of domestic abuse suicides were known to authorities – as one police chief admits “there is an awful lot” for forces and other agencies to “learn and improve” to prevent future deaths.
“I’m really concerned,” said Louisa Rolfe, the Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner and national police lead for domestic abuse.
She told Sky News the number of deaths in a domestic setting are a “staggering and intractable problem”.
The report for England and Wales also shows the number of people taking their own lives following domestic abuse is higher than the number of victims killed by an ex or current partner – for the second year running.
In the 12 months to March 2024, 98 people were suspected to have taken their own life following domestic abuse, while 80 people were killed by a partner, the National Police Chiefs’ Council report says.
In 79% of the suspected suicide cases, either the victim or perpetrator were known to other agencies, such as mental health services and domestic abuse specialists.
Since 2020, the most common form of death recorded in a domestic setting has become suicide following domestic abuse.
Ms Rolfe said the trend was “incredibly sad”.
“We’ve been working with other agencies and we’re really, really keen that we work together to understand how we can prevent these sad deaths… and what we might do to ensure that every victim receives the best possible response from us”, she added.
Victims ‘not being protected’
Deborah Jones runs a small domestic abuse charity in Barnsley, working with victims from across the country.
She says 90% of the women she supports have had suicidal thoughts, while a “large number” have made attempts on their life because “they just can’t see a way out”.
Deborah Jones says domestic violence victims are ‘passed from pillar to post’ by authorities
“Once they’ve reported something that is happening to them, they’re not being protected,” she said. “If they get referred to a service, nobody seems to want to catch them.
“They’re just being referred on to another service… being passed from pillar to post.”
Sky News joined a support session as victims talked about their experiences, where they described the “relentless torment” of their abuse.
Others said they had been “dismissed as mentally ill” and said reporting domestic abuse can be “re-traumatising”.
One woman said she was asked to recount her story “five times” in one day.
Kiena Dawes, Jessica Laverack and Kellie Sutton are three young women who took their own lives following a history of domestic abuse.
Ryan Wellings was the first defendant in England to face trial for the unlawful killing of his partner after her suicide following domestic violence.
Kiena blamed her partner for her death in a suicide note. He was cleared of her manslaughter, but sentenced to six and a half years in prison for controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault.
After the inquests into the deaths of Jessica and Kellie, coroners issued prevention of future death reports.
In Kellie’s case, the coroner said “matters of concern” included “a lack of understanding of controlling and coercive behaviour […] and the impact on victims”.
Kiena Dawes took her own life. Pic: Lancashire Police
After the inquest into Jessica’s death, the coroner called for more “recognition of the link between domestic abuse and suicide”, saying “processes and policies do not seem to include this serious area to the extent that is required”.
Earlier this month, Sky News spoke to Sharon Holland, whose daughter Chloe took her own life in 2023. Sharon is urging the government to consider tougher sentences for those convicted of coercive control.
‘Difficult’ to identify coercive behaviour, detective says
At Cheshire Police headquarters, the serious case review team examines deaths that have happened in domestic settings.
The team identifies some of the factors that can lead to suicide, in order to help agencies improve their response to domestic abuse and prevent future deaths.
“Coercive and controlling behaviour is by far the highest risk indicator for domestic suicide,” said Detective Nikki Brown.
She said it can be “difficult” for authorities to identify what that behaviour looks like and said officers need to ask “direct” questions.
Another common factor is “separation”, with victims vulnerable after a relationship ends, while perpetrators can become persistent as they’ve “lost that control”.
“They just can’t let it go,” said PC Colin Charlesworth, while out on patrol doing welfare checks on victims with protection orders in place. “They’re obsessed… and want to make their lives a misery. We lock them up, send them down, they’re still doing it from prison.”
Other factors identified in the report include mental ill health, and alcohol and drug misuse.
‘Devastating’
Jess Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls (VAWG), said “every death related to domestic abuse is a life cut short and a devastating tragedy”.
“The better we understand the links between domestic abuse and homicides, suicides, and unexpected deaths, the better equipped we are to prevent them from happening in the first place,” she added.
Ms Phillips said the policing report “rightly demands coordinated action across government, police and partner agencies to tackle these issues head on”.
“Our upcoming VAWG strategy will set out our ambition and concrete actions to strengthen our response to perpetrators and deliver on our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade,” she said.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
A British grandmother has died after contracting rabies from a “slight scratch” from a puppy during a holiday in Morocco, her family has said.
Yvonne Ford’s daughter said she travelled to the North African country in February but did not become ill until two weeks ago.
Robyn Thomson said in a Facebook post: “Our family is still processing this unimaginable loss, but we are choosing to speak up in the hope of preventing this from happening to others.
“She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February. At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn’t think much of it.
“Two weeks ago she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. Resulting in her passing.”
Yvonne Ford went to Morocco in February, her family said. Pic: Facebook
Ms Ford, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was diagnosed with the virus at Barnsley Hospital.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said health workers and close contacts were being assessed and offered vaccination when necessary.
It said there was no risk to the wider public because there is no evidence rabies can be transmitted between people.
What is rabies and how is it treated?
Rabies is caused by a virus invading the central nervous system.
It is spread by mammals – such as cats, dogs, bats, raccoons and foxes – but in the UK it’s only found in some bats, according to the NHS.
Once symptoms appear, it is almost always fatal, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The first symptoms can mirror a flu, while later symptoms include numbness or tingling in the affected area, hallucinations, anxiety, difficulty swallowing or breathing, nausea, vomiting, agitation, excessive saliva and paralysis.
But if seen to promptly after a bite, scratch or lick by an animal that may carry the virus, treatment is usually very effective at preventing the condition.
Treatment usually involves two or more doses of the rabies vaccine or a medicine called rabies immunoglobulin, which is a liquid administered to the wound and is only required if the patient has not had the rabies vaccine or has a weakened immune system.
The rabies vaccine is recommended if you’re travelling to a part of the world where rabies is more common.
Around 60,000 people die every year from rabies worldwide, with the majority in Africa and Asia, according to the WHO.
Read more about rabies, and how to avoid getting it, here.
Dr Katherine Russell at the UKHSA said: “I would like to extend my condolences to this individual’s family at this time.
“If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found then you should wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay in order to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies.”
The UKHSA urges travellers to rabies-affected countries, for example in Asia and Africa, to avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever possible and check whether a vaccination is needed before travelling.
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There have been six cases of human rabies associated with animal exposure abroad that have been reported in the UK between 2000 and 2024.
This includes a case in 2012, when a UK resident died after being bitten by a dog – the most common source of infection in most parts of the world – in South Asia.
The latest case was in 2018, when another Briton died after being bitten by a cat in Morocco.
Latest World Health Organisation figures show a number of deaths from rabies in Morocco have been reported every year from 2010 to 2022.
Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. No human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902.
The grieving mother of a Scottish teenager who vanished for almost five weeks has told Sky News she believes a “third party” was involved in her son’s death – but police say there’s “no evidence” of that.
Cole Cooper, 19, was discovered dead in woods near Falkirk earlier this month following a missing persons inquiry his relatives don’t believe was taken seriously enough by police.
He was last seen on CCTV in May after leaving a house party, but police later revealed a former school friend had spoken to Cole a few days later nearby.
Speaking exclusively to Sky News, his mother Wendy Stewart, 42, revealed her son had “various arguments” in the days and hours before he disappeared.
Cole’s mum Wendy (L) and his aunt Aimee
In an emotional interview, she said: “He was only 19, he should never have been taken. I am never going to see him again. I never got a chance to give him a last cuddle and hold his hand.
“Someone has taken that away from me far too soon. Whether it be intentionally or unintentionally, I do believe there has been some involvement by a third party and the result is the death of Cole.”
The family, who organised a local vigil in Cole’s memory last weekend, have vowed to get “justice”.
Asked what that means, Ms Stewart told Sky News: “Finding the culprit and getting justice that way. Finding the person that is responsible for the death of my child.”
Police previously said 400 residents were spoken to during door-to-door enquiries and more than 2,000 hours of CCTV footage was collected.
The 19-year-old’s death is being treated as “unexplained”, with a top police officer saying “at this time there is no evidence of any third party involvement”.
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A vigil was held in Banknock for Cole Cooper. Pic: PA
Cole’s aunt Aimee Tennie, 32, revealed the family’s anger over the police handling of the case as they attempt to find out what happened.
She said: “We are aware of small details surrounding the weekend leading up to it with arguments. He had a few arguments over that weekend. We want the details re-examined thoroughly.”
Sky News put all of the family’s concerns and allegations to Police Scotland.
The force initially swerved our questions and responded saying: “Enquiries remain ongoing.”
In an update later on Wednesday morning, Detective Chief Inspector Bob Williamson said: “We are carrying out significant enquiries into Cole’s death, however, at this time there is no evidence of any third party involvement.
“It is vital that we establish the full circumstances leading up to Cole’s death so that we can provide some answers to his family.
“The thoughts of everyone involved in this investigation are very much with his family and friends and officers will continue to offer them support and keep them informed as our enquiries progress.”
Ms Stewart claimed the probe has been handled “shockingly” with a failure to take her son’s disappearance seriously.
The 42-year-old said: “I have had to scream and shout from rooftops to be heard by the police. I don’t think they have handled it well.
“The police really need to take accountability and listen to families, they are reporting a missing child and understand the family knows their child best.”
Cole’s loved ones still have not been told when his body will be released to allow them to lay him to rest.
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