SUSSEX Police investigated officers three times but found nothing wrong with their handling of a mother’s death, despite fears she had been murdered.

The news comes a week after Robert Trigg was jailed for life for killing lovers Susan Nicholson in 2011 and Caroline Devlin in 2006. The force initially said the deaths were not suspicious and stood by this in three internal investigations.

But Ms Nicholson’s parents, Peter and Elizabeth Skelton, refused to accept the findings and always suspected Trigg murdered her in her Worthing home. They embarked on what would become a six-year campaign for justice after Ms Devlin’s mother Jean called them to say her daughter had also died while with Trigg.

Official paperwork seen by The Argus reveals the repeated pleas the Skeltons made to Sussex Police top brass for help and how the force refused to accept any fault in its original investigation time and time again. In some cases the family had to wait a year for a response.

Chief Superintendent Lisa Bell, Brighton and Hove’s commander, handled their complaints as head of the professional standards department.

Chief Inspector Emma Brice, district commander for Eastbourne, Lewes and Wealden, was one of the officers who investigated their complaint.

Detective Chief Superintendent Nick May oversaw the original investigation into Ms Nicholson’s death.

It emerged in Trigg’s trial that PC Darren Milledge was present at the scenes of both deaths and Detective Chief Inspector Tanya Jones, who led the latest investigation which secured Trigg’s conviction, was part of the team which originally looked at how Ms Devlin died.

The Skeltons yesterday accused police of a “cover up”. They claimed they were failed at every turn by those charged with holding the police to account, including the Independent Police Complaints Commission and police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne who they asked four times to step in.

Two years before Trigg was charged, the IPCC said the couple’s complaint had been answered “adequately”.

Mrs Skelton, 81, of Goring, said: “The way everyone handled our complaints was cruel, like a punishment. The whole system is not fit for purpose. Katy Bourne does nothing and gets paid all that money.”

The pair are not giving up as there are “still unanswered questions” and they want to know why they were ignored.

Documents show the then Superintendent Bell found “insufficient evidence” of officer misconduct or poor performance”. Case notes show police knew of Trigg’s violent past and Ms Devlin’s unexplained death but still said Ms Nicholson’s death did not arouse suspicions.

Previously Assistant Chief Constable Laurence Taylor said: “I am truly sorry it has taken this long to get justice. 

"We are keen to explore how we might help the family with some of the costs [they incurred].

“We have made a referral to the IPCC to ensure any lessons are learnt. They will decide the parameters of any review.

“In addition we have also asked West Sussex County Council to look into the investigation and consider the most appropriate type of review."

Neither Sussex Police or Mrs Bourne would comment yesterday on the claims. The Argus tried to contact every officer named in the papers. Several could not be reached and it is understood some have left the force. DCI Jones and Chief Supt Bell both said they could not comment.

The IPCC said: “The IPCC received a total of three appeals related to the way Sussex Police dealt with complaints regarding its investigation into Ms Nicholson’s death. We reviewed the way in which the force dealt with the complaints, and upheld the appeals on two occasions, asking the force to reinvestigate the complaint.
"On the third occasion, the IPCC considered Sussex Police had adequately investigated the complaint, with all appropriate lines of enquiry followed. We understand that decision was disappointing for Susan’s parents. We explained at the time that even if the IPCC had upheld the third complaint, the IPCC did not have the power to direct the force to reopen the investigation or refer the case to the CPS."

Updated: Sussex Police has since said it will carry out three reviews into how the case was handled

SIX YEARS TO GET TO THE TRUTH

DETERMINED to get to the truth about how their daughter died, Peter and Elizabeth Skelton entered into a six-year dialogue over the way Sussex Police handled the investigation:

April 17, 2011 Susan Nicholson is found dead in her home in Rowlands Road, Worthing, at around 9am.

December 8, 2011 Coroner Michael Kendall records a verdict of accidental death caused by boyfriend Robert Trigg unintentionally rolling on top of her in her sleep. Senior investigation officer on the case Detective Inspector Sarah Barrett gave evidence which said there was “no case to answer” in terms of a criminal investigation and police would not be taking any further action.

January 12, 2012 The Skeltons write to Chief Constable Martin Richards to ask for her death to continue to be investigated.

January 19, 2012 Mr Richards responds to say Chief Inspector Ian Pollard would be handling their request.

March 1, 2012 DI Sarah Barrett emailed Mr Skelton to say questions about the death were “valid” but “not significant” for the investigation and amounted to a “matter of opinion”, adding: “I am sorry I am not in a position to reopen the investigation.”

October 3, 2012 The force’s professional standards department reviewed the investigation. Papers show a note from DCI David Wardley-Wilkins to DI Nick Wainwright which said the scene gave no “indication of a crime having taken place” but the “unusual circumstances” and “previous history” of Trigg’s former partner Caroline Devlin also being an unexplained death, and incidents of domestic violence, “gave cause to further investigate the death and the circumstances”. The file includes an account from DCI Nick May, who oversaw DI Barrett’s investigation, who said two days after the death they discussed whether arresting Trigg at the time “may have been advantageous” and they gave “very real” consideration to whether he was a suspect but she was “clear in her own mind about the assessment of the scene”.

October 4, 2012 DI Wainwright told the Skeltons: “I am satisfied there is no evidence of any misconduct and that the matter was properly investigated at the time.”

October 2012 The couple complained to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) May 2013 The IPCC told Sussex Police to look at the complaint again.

October 10, 2013 After reviewing the investigation report compiled by DI Emma Brice, Superintendent Lisa Bell, head of professional standards, said there was “insufficient evidence” of officers breaching standards of professional behaviour or poor performance, misconduct proceedings could not be “justified” and no further action would be taken. No further correspondence would be entered into. The Skeltons appealed, contacting the IPCC again.

December 2013 The IPCC again upheld their appeal and told the force to review the handling of their complaint again.

October 20, 2014 Supt Bell reiterated she was satisfied there was no breach in standards and the matter should not be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service but admitted there had been one element of “poor performance” with PC Darren Milledge producing a “poor scene log” when guarding the initial scene. She said this was dealt with by “management action”. She said the force had not failed in the way it dealt with the couple. In the accompanying report, DS Ruth Eady said the investigation was “evidence led, appropriate and reasonable”.

November 2014 The Skeltons disputed the findings and went back to the IPCC again to appeal for a third time.

December 9, 2014 The IPCC said the force had “at last” conducted at adequate investigation of the complaint.

March 11, 2016 Nigel Pilkington, head of the CPS complex case work unit in Dyke Road, Hove, told them police had not yet handed them a case.

June 2016 Detective Chief Inspector Tanya Jones tells the Skeltons she is re-opening the case on Trigg.

August 4, 2016 Police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne’s office told the Skeltons they were “assured” the investigation was progressing and they were being taken “seriously”.

August 8 and 22, 2016 The Skeltons write twice to Mrs Bourne asking for a meeting.

September 1, 2016 An officer for the PCC said Mrs Bourne wanted to arrange a telephone call. The Skeltons ask for a meeting in person.

November 2016 Robert Trigg is questioned by police as a suspect for the first time. and charged.

May 15, 2017 The Skeltons write to Mrs Bourne again after receiving no response.

June 19, 2017 On what is due to be Trigg’s first day in court, an officer for the PCC writes to the Skeltons reiterating Mrs Bourne’s desire to phone them.

July 5, 2017 Trigg is found guilty of murder and manslaughter. DCI Jones said the force is “considering” a review of how the cases were handled.

July 6, 2017 Trigg is jailed for life. Assistant chief constable Laurence Taylor refers the case to the IPCC.

July 7, 2017 Mrs Bourne personally invites the Skeltons to a meeting in a hand written letter.