‘Risks posed by man who killed sister were missed’
AN AUTISTIC man who choked his sister to death after an argument at a caravan park had previously stabbed her with scissors and authorities “underestimated” the risk he posed to family members, a review has found.
Matthew Selby, now 20, killed his 15-year-old sister, Amanda Selby, in a caravan at the Ty Mawr Holiday Park in Conwy in July 2021 when they were on holiday with their father.
Selby admitted manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and was originally jailed for five years.
However, a hearing at the Court of Appeal later ruled that he should serve a life sentence with a minimum term of three years and four months.
As he has now been given a life sentence Selby will have to have his case considered by the Parole Board before he can be released from prison.
A serious case review into the death of Amanda Selby was commissioned by Tameside’s Safeguarding Children Partnership.
The review found that there were a number of missed opportunities over three years that may have identified risks in relation to Selby. Despite a spate of previous incidents children’s social care had closed the family’s case in 2018.
The safeguarding panel concluded it was concerned the case was closed “too soon” and there was “complacency” among agencies that Selby’s behaviour had “settled”.
The review also found that physical harm to Amanda did not appear to have been fully risk-assessed and there were “missed opportunities” in relation to safeguarding concerns regarding her mental and physical health. Additionally delays in securing Matthew Selby’s autism diagnosis affected the amount of support that could be provided to the family.
The report said that the family was known to different agencies for many years and that Matthew Selby – who suffered with mental health conditions as well as autism – had previously shown violent and aggressive behaviour, including an incident where he stabbed his sister with scissors in 2015.
A Tameside Safeguarding Children Partnership spokesman said: “This is an extremely tragic case and our thoughts are with everyone affected.
“We have met extensively with the family to support them and are aware of their requests for privacy following significant media interest.
“The partnership commissioned the review as part of our usual statutory process to identify any learning required and to be open and transparent about the circumstances. Where learning has been identified we have put action plans in place to address.
“The review was shared with the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, who considered it a good, focused, and succinct review which clearly set out the relevant learning.
“It was also shared with the coroner at the inquest, who made no further findings.”