The risk to women posed by a drug user who murdered his girlfriend and three other family members in “house of horror” killings in London was not assessed despite previous sexually- inappropriate behaviour in a “missed opportunity” to prevent the tragedy, a watchdog revealed on Thursday.
HM Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones said the “concerning behaviour displayed towards female prison officers” was among a host of missed chances to recognise the full level of danger posed by serial offender Joshua Jacques.
The skunk cannabis user was freed from jail then killed his girlfriend Samantha Drummonds, 27, her mother Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, her grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, and Ms Hill’s husband, Denton Burke, 68, in Bermondsey in April 2022.
Police described the scene they found as like being in “a horror movie” after the killings, which an Old Bailey judge later said had been partly triggered by Jacques’ skunk use and its impact on his mental health.
In his report on the tragedy today, Mr Jones said his inspectorate had found multiple “missed opportunities” to prevent the killings, including chances to recall Jacques to prison before they took place and the failure to assess adequately the full extent of the threat that he posed. The errors included a failure to organise drug treatment for Jacques, despite that being a condition of his release, and not reporting to police that he was using WhatsApp in breach of a licence condition imposed because of his previous conviction for drug supply.
The report also pointed out that although Jacques was assessed before his release from prison as “high risk of serious harm to the public in general”, his particular threat to women and any impact on a future “intimate relationship” was overlooked by probation staff despite his inappropriate behaviour towards female prison guards.
Further mistakes included placing Jacques under the supervision of an inexperienced probation officer, a lack of management oversight of his case, and an absence of “professional curiosity” in monitoring him.
Mr Jones added: “There were serious failings in the supervision of Joshua Jacques… and opportunities to recall Jacques to custody were missed.
“Several events, such as an arrest for further offences, disclosure of declining mental health, problematic behaviour towards neighbours, a new relationship, and the unpermitted use of social media, were not responded to or explored sufficiently.”
Jacques, 29, who told police the quadruple murders were a “sacrifice”, was jailed for life with a minimum of 46 years at the Old Bailey last week.
