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Lisa Skidmore inquest: Hostel ‘not told’ of rapist risk

A hostel manager was not told by police a convicted rapist was “noticing open windows” and thinking of reoffending, an inquest jury heard.

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Lisa Skidmore, and right, Leroy Campbell

Phyllis Senior, a senior support worker at Newell House, in Moseley, Birmingham, “had no concerns” over Leroy Campbell during his spell living at the property.

Campbell admitted to police officers in a meeting at the hostel in October 2016 he was “giving himself two weeks” to get over his feelings or to reoffend.

The information was not passed on to staff at Newell House, the inquest heard, and on November 24 2016, Campbell raped and murdered Lisa Skidmore when he climbed through her bedroom window in Mill Croft, Bilston.

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Ms Senior told Black Country Coroner’s Court she would have asked for Campbell to be removed from Newell House had she been aware of his admissions.

She said: “We expect to be told the information about Leroy struggling. I would have asked for him to be removed from the premises if we knew.

“We didn’t notice any change in him and we were not told of any increase in risk.

“We have a good working relationship with the probation service, we contact them with any concerns about residents.

“After his meeting with police, Leroy came to staff and said he was going back to the approved accommodation because police told him he wasn’t settling at Newell House. He said he didn’t want to go back but he continued as normal.”

Campbell was released from prison on licence for previous sexual offences in July 2016 but did not have a curfew placed on him, meaning he could "come and go as he pleased".

Ms Senior told coroner Zafar Siddique: “We work nine to five and use CCTV to check whether residents have broken curfew.

"We don’t constantly monitor them, that’s for the police or probation service, it’s not our responsibility.

“There was no concerns with Leroy and we didn’t contact them, he could come and go as he pleased.

“He came across ok and answered questions, we had no concerns over his placement.

“He was doing a college design course at Sandwell College and went every Wednesday.

“He kept himself to himself and only came down to use the computer for his designs.”

The inquest continues.

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