My daughter told police about her ex, but they did nothing - then he stabbed her to death

The mother of a student who was murdered by her ex-partner has claimed that her daughter was 'failed by those who were supposed to protect her'. Bethany Fields was fatally stabbed outside the pub where she worked in 2019 by her ex-partner Paul Crowther.

Crowther, later described in court as a "manipulative, abusive and controlling man," had subjected Bethany to weeks of abuse and threats before he "ambushed" and killed her with a kitchen knife. However, Bethany's mother, Pauline Jones, blames West Yorkshire Police for her 21-year-old daughter's death outside the Irish Centre on Fitzwilliam Street after they failed to respond when she reported her ex for harassment and abuse.

Recalling the devastating moment she was told her daughter had not survived the attack on BBC Newsnight, she said: "Straight away, I said, 'is that Paul Crowther? ' and they nodded. And I said, 'she came to you, for help'. They just put their heads down. In that moment, I died."

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The Newsnight investigation discovered that in cases of domestic homicide, West Yorkshire Police (WYP) knew of nine women who feared for their safety between 2019-2023 - including Bethany Fields. In Bethany's case, Newsnight found that police had not conducted proper risk assessments when domestic abuse was reported.

The Newsnight investigation has revealed that Crowther was well-acquainted with the authorities, having been arrested under the Mental Health Act nine times without ever being sectioned. Additionally, he was implicated in domestic altercations involving two former partners before his relationship with Bethany Vincent, reports Yorkshire Live.

West Yorkshire Police acknowledged their evolution in dealing with domestic violence incidents following Bethany's death; however, her mother expressed a grim sentiment, stating she was "failed by those who were supposed to protect her."

In an emotional statement during an ITV interview, Pauline conveyed her irrevocable loss: "How can any mother comprehend and ever get over that, to lose your daughter but then to know it was so preventable, it's crushing, its devastating, we're broken forever."

Crowther, aged 36 from Elm Way, Birstall, had admitted to the manslaughter of Bethany on grounds of diminished responsibility during an August 2020 court session, after psychiatric assessments found him fit to plead. While denying the charge of murder, his manslaughter plea was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service due to his schizophrenia diagnosis.

Consequently, he was detained indefinitely under section 45a of the Mental Health Act 1983, receiving a life sentence with a minimum 12-year term. A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police commented: "Our sympathies go out to the family of Bethany Fields for the devastating and tragic loss they have suffered."

They further explained: "Since Bethany's appalling death in September 2019, West Yorkshire Police has developed and amended its approach to domestic abuse in many ways."

"Domestic homicides always provide a sharp focus on areas of operational and investigative practice that could be improved and made better, but continual learning is a feature of the Force's approach to this insidious crime."

"We are however acutely aware that continual learning will not bring back loved ones taken in such horrific circumstances."

"As a result of both the Domestic Homicide Review and the IOPC investigation conducted following Bethany's death, West Yorkshire Police has accepted and implemented all recommendations raised through these reports."

"Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour based violence risk identification (DASH) receives review in daily risk assessment management meetings (DRAMMs) in each of the Force's five districts and there has been repeated emphasis for primary and secondary investigators on identifying and understanding the impact of cumulative incidents and the increasing risk that this poses to victims of domestic abuse and stalking."

"This includes the requirement to consider threats to life assessments where appropriate. West Yorkshire has five district MARACs (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) and West Yorkshire Police is a key partner in those arrangements which focus on the high-risk cases in the county."

"DASH is under review nationally and is due to be replaced by DARA and the Force is working to implement this, as well as using other innovative methods to better understand future risk."

"The Force continues to develop its Domestic Abuse Offender Management model to manage and focus on repeat offenders through the use of problem solving with partners and through MARAC and through the use of protective orders and Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme."

"We continue to strive to have clearer understanding of perpetrator offending behaviour and making better use of operational information and intelligence to intervene and reduce this."

"We have established an effective practice around the use of S.136 and under the continuing implementation of the Right Care, Right Person national framework, seeks together with partners to ensure that all people receive the appropriate mental health support, when it is needed most."

"In addition to this during summer 2023, the Force trained 3,250 front line officers and staff in the DA Matters training which focuses on understanding how domestic abuse perpetrators seek to coerce and control their victims and how officers can better identify, understand and gain the confidence of victims to work with police and support agencies to break the cycle of violence, and to bring perpetrators to justice."

In summer 2023, the force trained 3,250 frontline officers and staff in its Domestic Abuse Matters programme, and it has worked with Professor Monckton-Smith in delivering training courses.