WOMAN FORCED INTO HIDING BY BRITAIN'S WORST STALKER ATTACKS POLICE FAILURES
A social worker who was forced into hiding by a man dubbed Britain's most prolific stalker has spoken out for the first time over "appalling" failures of the Metropolitan police in investigating her harassment, followed by what she describes as an "incompetent" internal inquiry into its own conduct.Shauna Bailey was stalked for more than six years by Richard Jan after a mental health assessment team, of which she was part, visited his west London home in 1996 at the request of his mother.
The biochemist subsequently made numerous silent phone calls to the social worker, attacked and attempted to torch her car, and twice assaulted her, once beating her face repeatedly with a brick.
About 200 other victims were also targeted by Jan before he was arrested and charged in 2003.
Bailey was forced to flee her job and home in 2001, fearing for her life, and now lives under witness protection using a new identity.
She criticizes the failures by the Met and the IPCC, stating that their actions caused her more psychological harm than her attacker.
Jan was finally detained in February 2003 after a new chief inspector took charge of the investigation.
He was jailed for life in 2004.
Solicitors for Bailey have highlighted a long history of police inaction and incompetence, including not investigating multiple reports, ignoring warnings, and delays in search and evidence collection, which allowed Jan to continue his campaign for years.
Bailey's case revealed institutional failures in police responses to stalking and harassment, with subsequent reviews acknowledging shortcomings.
Despite an internal investigation, no officers were disciplined.
Bailey hopes for acknowledgment of these systemic failures to help her and future victims find closure.
