'Missed opportunities' to find Stephen Kershaw, says report

Police investigating the disappearance of Stephen Kershaw even came face to face with his killers before the grim discovery was made, a report seen by the Telegraph & Argus has revealed.

It has laid bare the missed opportunities by police, with the actions of two officers deemed to be "unsatisfactory". 

The body of the 65-year-old was found by police in a bedroom alcove at a property in East Bierley last September.

The case took a sudden turn this week when the jury sworn in to try Sarah Pearson was discharged ahead of her changing her plea to guilty.

Pearson and Mitchell (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

She had initially denied murdering Mr Kershaw at Shetcliffe Lane between September 11 and 17 last year.

Pearson, 23, of Shetcliffe Lane, also admitted fraudulent use of Mr Kershaw’s bank card.

Her co-accused Ian Mitchell, 35, also of Shetcliffe Lane, had pleaded guilty to the murder ahead of the trial date.

Lee Kershaw, Mr Kershaw’s son, lodged a complaint with police over the search to find his father, and the force’s Professional Standards Directorate found in its investigation that the service level was ‘not acceptable’.

A report, seen by the Telegraph & Argus, said: “Mr Kershaw was reported missing on September 13, 2022.

“He was located, deceased, on September 16, 2022, at his home address, three days after being reported missing.

Forensic officers at the scene (Image: T&A)

“Mr Kershaw’s home address was searched in total three times.”

It said the search conducted by one police officer on September 14 and a search by another on September 16 “was not thorough and opportunities were missed to locate him”.

It added: “The alcove area was not searched properly. It was on the third occasion that he was located within an alcove area in his bedroom.”

The report also said that an entry was made on the police log on September 15 that the house had been searched but “it appears that this entry was made in error”.

“Officers did attend the address that day, but did not go inside the house to search,” it said.

“An opportunity was therefore missed to search the house on this date.”

The report says officers will be spoken to "for failure to conduct a thorough search as per West Yorkshire Police force policy".

On September 14, three police officers attended the property and one asked if he could look in Mr Kershaw’s bedroom. Pearson showed him upstairs, where the police officer scanned the room.

The report says he could see “no obvious signs of foul play”.

“He stated that there was no blood, suspicious stains or foul smells.”

The officer knelt down near the mattress by the alcove and pulled it back.

The report said: “He stated he could see a pile of what looked like blankets. He peeled some of these back and could see nothing besides more blankets.”

Forensics on Shetcliffe Lane (Image: T&A)

The officer pressed down on the pile and could not feel anything hard or rigid.

The police officer continued to search the rest of the bedroom and Pearson came upstairs to show him the loft.

The report says he could see lots of mould and dust, so didn’t think it had been used for some time.

The officer went back into the bedroom to check the covered fireplace, then checked the smaller bedroom before going on house-to-house enquiries.

A different police officer attended the address the following day. After knocking for some time, the door was finally opened by Mitchell and Pearson, the report states.

The officer had a conversation with them on the doorstep but did not go inside the house, it adds.

The following morning, the same officer attended and after repeated knocking, Pearson spoke to the officer from the first-floor window.

She said she didn’t have a key for the door and asked him to come back later.

He returned later in the afternoon and went upstairs to conduct a “cursory search”.

The officer described a bad odour as he entered the bedroom and noticed the alcove area “which was full of clutter with a mattress over the top”.

The report adds: “He started to move the mattress and some items from within the alcove.”

As he started doing this, he heard Mitchell shout up, which caused him to move away.

That evening, seven officers went to the property. Two went to the bedroom where the smell had become stronger.

The alcove area had different items piled up against the wall, so the officers pulled the mattress back and used a torch to investigate further.

It was then that Mr Kershaw’s body was discovered.

The actions of two officers were deemed to be “unsatisfactory” and they have been ordered to identify further lessons learned as well as training and development needs.

They were also ordered to re-read the force policy, guidance, and best practice regarding searches.

Their supervisors were tasked with assisting in this.

The report to Mr Kershaw’s son concluded: “Please accept my apology on behalf of West Yorkshire Police for any distress, confusion or inconvenience that this incident has caused.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of a complaint but due to a review with the IOPC we are unable to comment further at this time.”

An IOPC spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Stephen Kershaw, as well as all those affected by his death.

“We have received an application for a review of West Yorkshire Police’s handling of a complaint regarding the search for Stephen Kershaw, who had been reported missing on September 13, 2022.

“The purpose of a review is to determine whether the outcome of the force’s handling of a complaint is reasonable and proportionate. It is not a reinvestigation of the complaint.

“We will provide the complainant with updates on the review in due course.”

• Pearson and Mitchell will be sentenced in November