4hr delay by cops in teen murder hunt
THE search for a murdered teenager was delayed by four hours because there were no available officers.
Ellen Higginbottom, 18, who hoped to be a vet, was reported missing around 7pm on June 16 last year.
Her body was found in a wheat field in Orrell Water Park in Wigan in the early hours of the next morning.
Mark Buckley, 52, was jailed for 31 years after a police helicopter thwarted his bid to bury the body.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct noted 13 delays by 11.30pm when Greater Manchester Police went to her Worsley home.
Assistant chief constable Chris Sykes said the force had lost 2,000 officers.
He apologised, adding: “While her death wouldn’t have been prevented the delay caused extra stress.”