Leah Croucher may have been killed during sex attack, court hears – MASHAHER

A teenager whose body was found more than three years after she went missing may have been killed during an “unwarranted sexual attack”, an inquest has heard.

Leah Croucher, 19, disappeared while walking to work on 15 February 2019 and her remains were discovered in a house in Milton Keynes less than half a mile (0.8km) from her home in October 2022.

Convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell, 49, who died in April 2019, was named as the only suspect by police following the discovery of Ms Croucher’s remains.

No medical cause of death could be identified, despite extensive testing, Milton Keynes Coroner’s Court heard.

Ms Croucher’s remains were discovered in the loft of a property on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton after a handyman visited the property, tasked with eradicating a smell.

Coroner Tom Osborne said her remains had been placed in plastic bags.

Maxwell was linked to the home as he had been a previous handyman for the property, which was used as a holiday home by overseas owners.

Det Supt Kevin Brown, of Thames Valley Police, said he believed Ms Croucher died on or close to the day she went missing.

Asked by the coroner if on the balance of probabilities she was killed by Maxwell, he said “absolutely”.

Caroline Haughey KC, representing Ms Croucher’s family, asked if the detective believed it was “likely to be an unwarranted sexual attack and in fact because of her martial arts ability, she reacted and subsequently died”.

Det Supt Brown said: “I believe she would have defended herself, that may have escalated the situation.”

The coroner’s court heard that police first received a phone call about Maxwell in relation to the Leah Croucher investigation in May 2019.

A murder investigation was launched in October 2022 with the discovery of her body.

Det Ch Supt Joe Kidman, from Thames Valley Police, said that following reviews carried out in relation to Ms Croucher’s case, a number of changes had been made.

The inquest heard Maxwell was assessed as a medium risk after he was convicted of sexual assault in February 2018, but subsequently it was decided he should have been deemed a high risk.

He also failed to attend a number of probation appointments in 2018 after his conviction, and a police officer dealing with him raised concerns about his lack of communication in January 2019, the inquest heard.

Geoff Davis, head of operations for the south central probation service, said Maxwell’s risk level had been “underestimated”.

Police had updated a system for sharing information about sex offenders in regards to Maxwell but the update had not been read by the probation service, calling it a “missed opportunity”.

In 2018, Maxwell was “good at disguising his compliance in terms of his reporting to us”.

He added that Maxwell was reporting to probation as instructed and completed 200 hours of unpaid work.

Previously, Thames Valley Police said Maxwell, who was wanted for an alleged sexual assault in Newport Pagnell in November 2018, had used false names to evade arrest.

He had also stopped using his car and mobile phone and officers believed he had lost weight and grown a beard to alter his appearance.

The inquest continues.