Pensioner killed by homeless woman raised concerns with police 7 times

THE police watchdog has found no wrongdoing on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police after the murder of an elderly man, but recommendations were made.

- By LOUIS CORBETT

Barry Spooner was 74 when his body was found in his cellar days after he was stabbed to death more than 30 times by Sarah Hansford in May 2023 in his home on Gladstone Street, Forest Fields.

The elderly man had taken pity on Hansford, who was living with Mr Spooner at the time of his death, after she told him she was homeless in 2020.

Despite Mr Spooner showing her kindness by allowing her to live with him, Hansford took advantage of that and, by using a combination of persuasion, threats, aggression and violence, she stripped him of around £20,000 of life savings.

She had previously been sentenced to 39 months in prison for offences of violence and breaching her restraining order against her elderly grandfather.

Despite her previous convictions, no concerns arose among Probation Service staff when Hansford told a practitioner she was living with “an old bloke” that she had befriended.

Mr Spooner engaged with Nottinghamshire Police seven times between May 2021 and 2023 about his concerns regarding Hansford.