The family of a senior citizen who was tragically murdered by a woman who had absconded from a mental health facility has criticized two police forces and an NHS trust for their failure to prevent the incident.
Roger Leadbeater, a 74-year-old retired bus driver, was fatally stabbed by Emma Borowy, 32, while walking his dog in a Sheffield park in August 2023. Borowy, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, claimed she was compelled by the devil to commit the act as a “ritual sacrifice.”
Borowy had escaped from an acute mental health unit in Bolton, Greater Manchester, where a coroner determined that her leave request would likely have been denied if proper procedures had been followed. The inquest revealed Borowy’s history of absconding and making disturbing statements to authorities.
The coroner criticized the failure of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and South Yorkshire police in handling vulnerable individuals like Borowy. Mr. Leadbeater’s niece, Angela Hector, expressed disappointment in the authorities for their lapses in ensuring public safety.
The inquest detailed Borowy’s violent tendencies and previous encounters with law enforcement, highlighting the inadequate risk assessments and decision-making that led to the tragic outcome. The coroner emphasized the need for improved protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Julian Hendy from the Hundred Families charity underscored the systemic failures that contributed to the tragedy, urging better accountability and learning from past mistakes. Greater Manchester authorities acknowledged the need for enhanced collaboration and information sharing to prevent such incidents.
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker of Greater Manchester Police issued an apology to Mr. Leadbeater’s family for the oversight in information sharing and pledged to implement new mental health monitoring procedures for better coordination among agencies.
Efforts are underway to address the shortcomings highlighted by the inquest and ensure that lessons are learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.