Martin Jones

About 150 people protested illegal immigration in Taunton, while roughly 250 counter-demonstrators attended in opposition. The groups were kept apart by around 110 police officers, and the event passed peacefully with no arrests. Britain First leader Paul Golding, who had been expected to speak, did not attend, and there was little visible evidence that the march was organised by the group. Local leaders Bill Revans and Gideon Amos joined the counter-protest and argued that Taunton should remain welcoming to people from around the world.

A long‑term sex offender, Richard Scatchard, coerced and drugged his partner Kelly Faiers, leading to her unlawful killing in 2023. Despite past convictions for drugging, assaulting, and raping women, he was released on licence in 2013 and later deemed medium risk. He concealed his relationship with Faiers from authorities, who lacked the information and powers needed to intervene. An inquest described him as manipulative and controlling, and police and probation services acknowledged failings following complaints from Faiers’ family. Former investigators described Scatchard as a serial rapist unlikely to be rehabilitated. His death has left Faiers’ family without closure.

A long‑term sex offender, Richard Scatchard, coerced 61‑year‑old Kelly Faiers into taking excessive sleeping tablets before her death in 2023. An inquest concluded she was unlawfully killed and found Scatchard had hidden their relationship from authorities despite being monitored as a medium‑risk offender. His history included decades of drugging and assaulting women, previous prison sentences, and multiple breaches of licence conditions. Failures by police and probation services were acknowledged, though officials said they were unaware of Kelly’s existence due to his deception. Scatchard fled after her death and was later found dead, leaving Kelly’s family without closure and raising concerns about his release and supervision. The Ministry of Justice and police cited reforms to strengthen monitoring of high‑risk offenders.

Mark Acklom, previously convicted of defrauding Carolyn Woods of hundreds of thousands of pounds, has been granted permission to appeal a court order requiring him to repay £125,000. The appeal challenges how his available assets were calculated, including whether ‘tainted gifts’ should count. The delay frustrates Woods, who says the justice system fails victims. The presiding judge previously expressed doubt Acklom would repay anything, and his appeal further postpones restitution while he is believed to be living in Spain.