Preston murder victim Steven May's tragic case will be subject to a domestic homicide review

Steven, 50, was physically and financially abused, and then killed by Darren Taylor, 45, who befriended him and moved into his home as a self proclaimed lodger 12 weeks before his death.

At the time Steven was receiving a home care package and had carers going into his home to check on his welfare.

In December 2018 a care package had been agreed between a firm - Complete Care - Lancashire Social Services and Steven May’s family for carers to visit Steven six days a week to support him with his personal care, medication and meal preparation.

It is understood Complete Care was funded by social services to provide care 20 minutes a day, six days a week for Mr May.

When he died in May 2019, he was found to have suffered 76 rib fractures and various bruises and abrasions in the last 12 weeks of his life, caused by Taylor.

A spokesman for Preston’s Community Safety Partnership said the review had been paused until now in line with Government guidance in the wake of the pandemic, but was likely to commence in November.

A Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) is a review by multiple different agencies of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by a person to whom they were related or lived with.

Since April 2011 there has been a statutory requirement for local areas to conduct a DHR following a domestic homicide that meets the criteria.

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