Police face investigation over stalker who slit throat of ex-girlfriend
A POLICE watchdog is investigating whether officers should have done more to protect a young woman murdered by her soldier ex-boyfriend who had pursued a stalking campaign against her.
L/Cpl Trimaan “Harry” Dhillon, a signaller with 2 Scots, was told yesterday he would serve at least 22 years in prison for a crime of “utter barbarism”.
The parents of Alice Ruggles said “important lessons” needed to be learnt from the killing of their daughter after Dhillon broke into her flat.
Dr Sue Hills, the victim’s mother, said she felt she had failed her daughter by encouraging her to see the good in everyone and suggesting she ignore Dhillon until he went away.
A two-week trial heard his relentless stalking had terrified Miss Ruggles but that she had told police she did not want him arrested.
One of Dhillon’s former girlfriends had resorted to a restraining order against him because of his violence, the court heard.
Dr Hills, a maths teacher at a girls’ independent school, told Newcastle Crown Court: “I have always believed in looking for the good in everyone. I have taught that to my own children and my pupils. I am haunted by Alice saying she did not want to get Trimaan into trouble, she just wanted him to leave her alone.
“I will never forgive myself for advising her that if she ignored him he may leave her alone. I failed Alice in not advising her to stand up to Trimaan and that still haunts me.”
Dhillon, 26, began to stalk Miss Ruggles after she ended their relation- ship because she discovered he had used internet dating apps to cheat on her.
She called Northumbria Police after Dhillon made a 250-mile round trip from his barracks in Scotland to tap on her bedroom window.
He was warned by police to stay away from her and she was told to ring officers if he made further contact.
But he persisted and sent her a package days later containing a note, photographs and a notebook.
When she called officers, they asked if she wanted him arrested, but the court heard she did not want to get him into trouble.
However, Miss Ruggles was angry about the police’s lack of action, telling her sister, Emma: “They will f------ respond once he has f------ stabbed me.”
Five days later, Dhillon broke into her Gateshead flat and slit her throat.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is looking at the force’s own internal investigation into the chain of events.