In a sombre conclusion at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court, a jury has formally declared the death of 23-year-old Gracie Spinks as an “unlawful killing” in an inquest into her tragic stabbing by her stalker, 35-year-old Michael Sellers.

Gracie Spinks lost her life on June 18, 2021, as she tended to her horse in Duckmanton, near Chesterfield. Michael Sellers, her assailant, was later found dead a short distance away, in an apparent suicide. The jury, led by Coroner Matthew Kewley, heard that Sellers had stabbed Miss Spinks 10 times, leaving no room for doubt about the circumstances of her death.

Coroner Kewley had emphasized to the 10 jurors that overwhelming evidence pointed to Sellers as the perpetrator. As they retired on Wednesday, they were instructed to return a conclusion of “unlawfully killed,” a verdict they formally delivered on Thursday afternoon.

While multiple failings by Derbyshire Police were acknowledged and documented by the jury, they were restricted from determining if these failings contributed to Gracie Spinks’ death. Sellers, referred to as “the supervisor” in the jury’s conclusion, had a history of harassment, prompting Miss Spinks to report him for stalking in January 2021.

Warnings went unheeded when a bag of weapons, including knives and an axe, was found near the crime scene in May 2021. Several police officers admitted to shortcomings, with one expressing regret to the victim’s family. The jury was not tasked with assessing the police failings’ impact on the tragic outcome.

Before the verdict, Derbyshire Constabulary admitted the need for improvement in handling stalking concerns and understanding risk. Detective Superintendent Darren De’ath acknowledged progress but noted concerns raised during the inquest, emphasizing ongoing efforts to rectify deficiencies.

Coroner Kewley expressed concern that officers involved in the case showed little inclination to change their views on risk assessment. Detective Superintendent De’ath conceded that despite improvements, the force has not fully achieved its goals, pledging continued efforts to get things right.