David Fuller, the worst necrophiliac killer in British history, was able to abuse the bodies of more than 100 women and girls over 15 years due to serious failings at the NHS hospitals where he worked, an inquiry has found. Fuller, who murdered two women and sexually abused bodies in mortuaries, was sentenced to life in prison in 2021. The independent inquiry's chair, Sir Jonathan Michael, said there were missed opportunities to question Fuller's working practices.
Fuller routinely worked beyond his contracted hours, undertaking unnecessary tasks in the mortuary despite chronic back problems, which went unquestioned. He visited the mortuary 444 times in one year unnoticed and unchecked. Senior bosses were aware of problems in the mortuary's running from as early as 2008, the inquiry found.
Failures of management, governance, and regulation, along with a persistent lack of curiosity, created an environment where Fuller could offend without suspicion, Michael said. He made 17 recommendations, including installing CCTV in mortuaries, having maintenance staff work in pairs, and ending the practice of leaving bodies out of fridges overnight.
The trust’s chief executive, Miles Scott, apologised and said the trust would implement the remaining recommendations quickly. Health minister Maria Caulfield apologised on behalf of the government and NHS, vowing lessons would be learnt to prevent such atrocities.
