IOPC to probe if police could have stopped killing

The police watchdog is investigating whether officers missed an opportunity to prevent a psychotic stranger stabbing a disabled woman to death in the victim's home.

Patricia Hewitt, 42, had been allowed to walk away by Durham Police officers minutes before she killed Angela Lloyd, 56, in Newton Aycliffe in August 2025.

After initially being unable to investigate as their remit was not met, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a probe had been launched after receiving a complaint, believed to be from Lloyd's family.

Hewitt was sentenced to an indefinite hospital detention order for diminished responsibility manslaughter. A coroner has confirmed an inquest will be held.

On 13 August 2025, Hewitt walked into Angela Lloyd's home and stabbed her dozens of times with a knife and scissors while demanding money.

The killer had been spoken to by police community support officers (PCSOs) just minutes before, after multiple people raised concerns about her erratic behaviour and she stole wine from a shop.

Earlier that day she had walked free from Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court having been given a suspended sentence for randomly attacking a woman the day before in Chester-le-Street.

On Tuesday, County Durham and Darlington coroner Jeremy Chipperfield said some issues about Lloyd's death warranted proper exploration, including a care emergency service which failed to respond quickly to Lloyd's desperate calls for help and Hewitt's contact with police.

After Hewitt was sentenced, the IOPC confirmed Durham Police had referred itself to the watchdog.

But the IOPC did not have the power to investigate as it could only look at cases where the victim had had prior police contact, not the killer, and they had received no complaint.

Lloyd's brothers, Patrick and Joseph, told the coroner on Tuesday they had since made a complaint to the IOPC asking them to look again at their sister's case.

The IOPC confirmed an investigation into Durham Police's contact with Hewitt was now under way.

A spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Angela Lloyd, as well as all those affected by her death.

"Our investigation, which is at a very early stage, will look at the nature of the contact police had with Patricia Hewitt, including whether there were any missed opportunities to prevent Angela's death."

Durham Police previously said the force would "reflect" on the case.

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