Three police officers are being investigated for their treatment of a vulnerable man who was tortured and stabbed to death by his ex and her boyfriend

Three police officers are being investigated over their treatment of a vulnerable man who was later murdered by his ex-partner and her new boyfriend.

The officers were called in after social workers raised concerns about the welfare of Phillip Nicholson, who had learning difficulties.

The 22-year-old was later tortured and stabbed to death by his ex-girlfriend Isabella Gossling and her new boyfriend Richard Moors, both of whom have now been jailed for murder.

A week after the pair were sentenced, the Independent Police Complaints Commission has announced it is investigating three officers connected to the case.

The new investigation relates to a report by an independent domestic violence advisor who had warned that Mr Nicholson was at at very high risk of sexual, mental, financial and emotional abuse by Gossling.

The social services report was made eighteen months before Mr Nicholson's death, at a time he was still in a relationship with Gossling.

A spokesman for the police watchdog said: 'The IPCC investigation is looking at how Dorset Police officers investigated threats against Mr Nicholson in the 18 months before his death, including one made 11 days before his fatal stabbing.

'It will also look at whether police acted appropriately in their dealings with Mr Nicholson.

'At this stage, three Dorset Police officers have been served with gross misconduct notices informing them their conduct is under investigation.

'Misconduct notices do not imply guilt but are to inform the officer that their behaviour and conduct are under investigation and the level of severity.'

Gossling and Moors lured Mr Nicholson to their flat in Boscombe, Dorset, and subjected him to a brutal ordeal of torture before stabbing him to death on May 26 this year. Gossling, 20, recorded 17 minutes of the attack on her mobile phone.

CCTV footage from Boscombe on the day of his death showed the pair leading Mr Nicholson to his death. They were later seen boarding a bus.

Gossling was convicted of murdering Mr Nicholson and was last week sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 19 years.

Moors, 26, admitted murder at an earlier hearing, and was also sentenced to life behind bars with a minimum term of 22 years.

Following the killing Dorset Police referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission

Original report here


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