Davinia Loynton: Telford murder victim's family has been failed, says MP
The family of a Telford woman murdered by a prisoner released early on licence were failed by the justice system, the town's MP has said.
Telford MP Lucy Allan said she would be raising the case of Davinia Loynton, who was murdered in her own home by cocaine addict Kevin Hyden, with Justice Secretary Michael Gove.
Ms Allan said Andrews Selous, minister for prisons, probation and rehabilitation, had already issued an apology after she contacted him.
A report, which was leaked to the Shropshire Star, revealed that Hyden had breached the terms of his licence several times.
Miss Loynton, who was known to her friends as "Dink", was attacked in her front room in St John Street, Wellington, after Hyden forced his way into her flat.
He tortured the 59-year-old office manager until she revealed the security number for her bank accounts, before beating her to death with a weapon and rolling her body up in a carpet. He then withdrew £2,770 from her bank accounts, and spent hundreds of pounds on drugs which he ordered using Miss Loynton's mobile phone.
Hyden had been living in a flat almost opposite Miss Loynton in Glebe Street following his release from a six-year prison sentence. He had been jailed in 2008 for attacking an antique dealer with a hammer to get money for drugs.
He was initially classed as "high-risk" on his release, but was downgraded to medium risk, despite failing to turn up to several appointments. This meant that Hyden was no longer subjected to regular drug testing.
In an interview with police, he also admitted burgling Miss Loynton's flat while on licence.
Her brother Dale Loynton said he believed she might still be alive today if the probation service had monitored Hyden more closely.
Ms Allan said: "I am extremely concerned about this case. Andrew Selous MP, the Minister for Prisons, Probation and Rehabilitation, has recently responded, apologising for the service Mr Loynton and his family has received."
She said Mr Selous had also been in touch with the National Probation Service which had agreed to meet Mr Loynton to listen to his concerns.
"The review is clear that the National Probation Service could have done more," said Ms Allan.
"A key part of the justice system is managing offenders when they are released so that they can re-enter society without returning to crime. In this instance the system failed. This was an horrific murder by an offender on licence.
"Due to the seriousness of this crime and the circumstances surrounding it I will be looking to raise the issue with Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary on Mr Loynton's behalf."
Hyden was last year jailed for life for Miss Loynton's murder, which took place in September 2014. He was told he must serve at least 32 years.
Rebecca Davidson-Olley of the Ministry of Justice said that while Hyden alone was responsible for Miss Loynton's death, an investigation found that the National Probation Service could have done more.
"As such, the NPS will reflect on these findings and will seek to ensure that the lessons learned are brought to bear on future operational practice," she said.
