«Breaking News» Family of murdered woman, 24, say Army could have done more to protect her from stalker

Trimaan 'Harry' Dhillon, 26, was jailed for life for murdering his ex-girlfriend Alice Ruggles

The family of a young woman murdered by her jealous and obsessed ex-boyfriend say the Army could have prevented her death at the hands of the soldier. 

Trimaan 'Harry' Dhillon, 26, travelled 120 miles from his barracks to Alice Ruggles' home, where he repeatedly slashed her throat in an act of 'utter barbarism'.

Ms Ruggles, a 24-year-old Sky employee, had contacted Northumbria Police about Dhillon's stalking in the days before he broke into her Gateshead property and launched his sickening attack.

Today it has been revealed how an officer from the force contacted Dhillon's barracks in Edinburgh and spoke to a superior - but not the Military Police or Police Scotland.

Dhillon was told to stop contacting Alice or face arrest, but he ignored the warning from the regiment, continued to contact her and eventually drove to Tyneside to murder Alice in October 2016.

Dhillon, a Lance Corporal who trained with the Special Reconnaissance Service, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

After the trial, Gateshead Council conducted a domestic homicide review (DHR), the findings of which have been published today.

In the review, Alice's parents Sue and Clive said they believe their daughter's death 'was preventable.'

Miss Ruggles's sister Emma, herself a serving soldier, said she was 'frustrated' by the Army's response to the murder. 

Ms Ruggles had contacted Northumbria Police about Dhillon's stalking in the days before he broke into her home and killed her

Dhillon (left), pictured with former prime minister David Cameron, was a signaller with his regiment who had passed some of the courses to join the special forces

'Jealous, manipulative' soldier became infatuated with Alice

Dhillon was tall, powerfully-built and was a signaller with his regiment who had passed some of the courses to join the special forces. 

He had served in Afghanistan but not in a combat role and the Army was unaware of any traumatic episode during his service.

He became obsessed with Ms Ruggles, and was described during his trial as a jealous and manipulative man.

The couple had got together in October 2015 after he spotted her photo on a mutual friend's Facebook page, describing Ms Ruggles as 'the most naturally beautiful girl in the world'.

Miss Ruggles was at first put off by the comment but changed her mind and they got together before fears were raised about the intensity of their relationship.

Dhillon would check her messages and question why she was trying to look nice when she went out. 

On the evening of the discovery of his alleged victim's body, Dhillon was arrested at his barracks having tried to scale a perimeter fence.

He was allowed a toilet break before police arrived and tried to wash blood away. But traces were found on his Help for Heroes wristband and on the steering wheel of his car. 

The report has made 20 recommendations for local authorities, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence to act upon.

Alice's parents say in the report: 'We believe that her death was preventable.

'We find it difficult to comprehend that, although Alice described in her first phone call to the police that she was being stalked and provided ample evidence, the police and the army were unable to support and protect her.'

Her sister said she has had no contact from Dhillon's unit, no response to questions she posed to the Royal Military Police nor a sense that lessons had been learned.

The 2 Scots soldier had a history of offending against former girlfriends and Emma Ruggles said she could not believe the Army was unaware as he was serving at the time.

She said: 'Similar situations need to be taken far more seriously in the future by both the police and the Army.

'Failure to do so would show a blatant lack of regard for my sister, the nightmare she lived in her last few months and the sustained, painful, violent last few minutes of her life.'

The DHR has recommended that it becomes an offence to threaten to release intimate photos of an ex-partner, as Dhillon had done once Ms Ruggles had called off their relationship.

Dhillon had left for Miss Ruggles after he drove from Edinburgh to Gateshead to leave chocolates and flowers on her window sill. 

Alice told police she feared for her safety after Dhillon left gifts on her window sill

A compelling ITV documentary aired in October 2017 followed the efforts of the murder squad to catch Alice’s killer, and which shows the vital nature of decisions made in the first hour after a major crime has been committed. Pictured, Harry Dhillon arrives in custody, in a still taken from the ITV show, An Hour to Catch a Killer

Ms Ruggles, a Sky UK office coordinator, was seen at her office shortly before her death

Mother reveals tragic Alice didn't get her killer arrested because she didn't want to get him into trouble

Ms Ruggles' family have since encouraged other victims of stalking to speak out. 

In a statement made through the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which helps people avoid becoming victims of violence, Alice's mother Dr Sue Hills said: 'I just keep thinking I can't believe we didn't identify the signs of stalking but you just don't know when it's going on.

'Unfortunately when Alice reported it to the police she was very reluctant and told them she didn't want to get him into any trouble. He hadn't been violent just very arrogant and controlling. 

'I would like what happened to Alice to encourage others to seek support if they are worried about someone's behaviour.

'We believe there are important lessons to be learned from what happened to Alice. We didn't think that she was the sort of girl that something like this could happen to.

'We welcomed him into our family and he came across as a normal person. Unfortunately he was a cruel manipulative bully who made Alice miserable and took her away from us.

'With hindsight, there were many signs of stalking and coercive behaviour that we did not recognise. Everybody should know about these signs.' 

His actions prompted her to phone police on October 1, telling them that she had heard knocking on her doors and windows and was worried about Dhillon's actions. 

In a second call to Northumbria Police, as Dhillon's stalking continued, a call handler asked Ms Ruggles if she wanted him to be arrested.

The DHR found the police should have made the decision, and it should not have been left to the victim, who declined.

Five days later, he returned to her home and killed her. 

In a second call to Northumbria Police, as Dhillon's stalking continued, a call handler asked Ms Ruggles if she wanted him to be arrested.

The DHR found the police should have made the decision, and it should not have been left to the victim, who declined.

Northumbria Police's Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Bacon said changes have been made nationally regarding the response to stalking and harassment in the light of this horrific case.

She said: 'With the help of Alice's family we are now leading the way in training officers in the best way to deal with these types of offences, with their input vital in developing a video which is now also used by other forces and partners.

'Their continued determination to change the law to better protect victims of stalking is commendable.'

Alice didn't get her killer arrested because she didn't want to get him into trouble, it was revealed after her death

Harry Dhillon cut the throat of his ex-girlfriend Alice Ruggles. Her horrific murder was discovered by her housemate Maxine McGill, whose harrowing 999 call was recorded

Build-up to murder: Timeline of Sky worker's horrific killing

October 11, 2015 - Alice Ruggles and Lance Corporal Trimaan Harry Dhillon begin a relationship while he is serving in Afghanistan. 

January 2016  - The couple meet for the first time and later develop an unhealthy relationship in which Dhillon tries to control Miss Ruggles and isolate her from her friends.

August 2016 - Miss Ruggles decides to end the relationship due to him messaging other women.

September 2016 - Dhillon harasses his ex and hacks into her Facebook account so he can monitor what she is doing.

Dhillon's relationship with Miss Ruggles began when he was serving abroad 

September 22 - He tracks down a new man Miss Ruggles hopes to start a relationship with and contacts him on Facebook.

September 30 - Dhillon knocks on her door three times at night, then taps on her bedroom window and leaves chocolates and flowers on her window sill.

Dhillon then drives 120 miles home to Edinburgh and leaves her a voicemail repeatedly saying he did not want to hurt her. Miss Ruggles contacts police.

October 2 - Miss Ruggles makes a statement to Northumbria Police. She says Dhillon has taken the relationship ending badly and has hacked into her Facebook account. She obtains an official Police Information Notice warning which instructs him to stop contacting her.

October 3 - Dhillon's commanding officer tells him to leave her alone and the soldier agrees, but later that day he posts a parcel to her, containing a letter and photographs of them together.

October 7 - Miss Ruggles receives the parcel and contacts police. She cannot speak to the same officer, who is on leave, and is asked by a call handler if she wants Dhillon arrested. She chooses not to ruin his career and declines.

October 10 - Dhillon, who is training to join the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, drives from Edinburgh to Tyneside and in darkness scopes out the back of her flat. He takes two photos of her bathroom.

October 12 - He drives from his barracks again and waits for Miss Ruggles to finish work.

Miss Ruggles is trying on a ball gown and messaging her potential new boyfriend when all contact stops at around 6pm. Dhillon has got in through an open window, launched a surprise attack causing six deep slashes to the neck, and left her dying on the bathroom floor.

At 6.30pm her body is found by flatmate Maxine McGill, who had to break in to the property. She names Dhillon as a suspect in a distressing 999 call.

He is arrested that evening at his barracks. In the meantime he has dumped the murder weapon and her phone.

April 2017: On April 10, 2017, he pleaded not guilty to Alice’s murder at Newcastle Crown Court — a plea that the jury rejected, convicting him unanimously.

Just over three weeks later, on April 26, he was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 22 years.

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/19/family-of-murdered-woman-24-say-army-could-have-done-more-to-protect-her-from-stalker/
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Trimaan ‘Harry’ Dhillon, 26, was jailed for life for murdering his ex-girlfriend Alice Ruggles

The family of a young woman murdered by her jealous and obsessed ex-boyfriend say the Army could have prevented her death at the hands of the soldier. 
Trimaan ‘Harry’ ...

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