Inconsistencies in care of Becky Watts prior to her murder

Bristol teenager Becky Watts was feared to be at risk of sexual exploitation and told professionals she was scared of being abducted prior to her murder.

The 16-year-old shared concerns about a “young male peer threatening to publish explicit photographs on the internet” and said she was worried about ‘sexting’, a serious case review has revealed.

The St George teenager was murdered by her step-brother, Nathan Matthews, and her dismembered body was found in Barton Hill in March 2015, following a massive police search that gained national attention.

Police found the body of Becky Watts in a garden shed in Barton Court

A report into her death, published this week by Bristol Safeguarding Children Board, found “no evidence that the murder could have been predicted or prevented by any professional working with Becky”.

However, it highlights that there were inconsistencies in the multi-agency system approach to understanding her “complex needs” and, as a result, not all agencies involved operated to their full potential.

The report says that Becky was described as “controlling”, “lacking aspiration” and “not engaged with the assessment” – language that demonstrates a failure to take her wider problems into account.

The review states that Becky’s father, Darren Galsworthy, and step-mother, Anjie Galsworthy, said that in hindsight the teenager’s “challenging” behaviour was worse when her step-brother was around.

They said they wished they had realised the bullying she was being subjected to from him at the time so they could have intervened to keep her safe.

Prior to her death, Becky shared concerns with case workers about the threat to publish explicit photographs on the internet and worries about ‘sexting’, but the report states the 16-year-old was scared to discuss this at home as she feared her father might “throw her out”.

Her referral to a sexual exploitation project was not talked about by professionals, but was not made because there was “confusion about whose responsibility it was”. The sexual exploitation concerns were triggered by the threats from a “young male peer” rather than her step-brother.

Becky suffered from anxiety and anorexia

A teenager who found it difficult to go to school, Becky had anxieties about being outside of the family home, and suffered with anorexia.

The review states: “Becky reported feeling scared about a lot of things, including going back to school and being out alone, caused, she said, by reading about abduction cases and watching horror movies.”

It details a difficult relationship with her father, conflict with her older brother and being unkindly teased about her weight by her step-brother.

It was when she was 13 that her step-mother turned to the local Children and Young People Services office for help.

The report criticises the repeated lack of engagement with Becky’s father in the multi-agency process – with most of the emphasis being on her step-mother – and says there was a lack of understanding about the needs of a 13-year-old.

It makes a series of recommendations, including the need to engage fathers in family therapy and parenting sessions, making sure services are focused on the needs and understanding adolescents, better communication between agencies.

Nathan Mathews was convicted of Becky’s murder

Matthews was convicted of Becky’s murder at Bristol Crown Court in November 2015. He is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 33 years.

His former partner, Shauna Hoare, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 17 years in prison.

In addition to the safeguarding review, there is an ongoing Domestic Homicide Review into Becky’s case.

Read more: Becky Watts’ funeral celebrates her life