Blackpool hospital stroke patient sexually assaulted, court told

A stroke patient died as a result of being sexually assaulted after she was admitted to hospital, an inquest has heard.

Retired clerical assistant Valerie Kneale, 75, died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on 16 November 2018, four days after suffering a stroke at home in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.

While preparing Mrs Kneale’s body to be moved to the mortuary, three healthcare assistants identified “extensive” and “significant bleeding around the vaginal area”.

Forensic pathologist Dr Alison Armour concluded Mrs Kneale died not because of a stroke but because of a “forceable sexual assault”.

Dr Armour said she thought the injury was inflicted “at least 48 hours before death” and that it happened after Mrs Kneale’s admission.

The inquest at Blackpool Town Hall was told no concerns were raised either when the healthcare assistants noticed Mrs Kneale’s bleeding, or during her stay in hospital.

Detectives went on to order a post-mortem examination as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of mistreatment and neglect on the hospital’s stroke ward.

Retired senior investigating officer Jill Riley said the non-reporting of Mrs Kneale’s bleeding had an impact on the murder investigation which followed.

She said: “The delay was significant in securing and preserving critical evidence.

“Valerie’s room would have been cleared and used by other patients. There was limited, if any, forensic opportunities.

“There were no CCTV opportunities in the stroke unit and the wider hospital because the data had over-run and been deleted, while clothing worn by Valerie at the time of death had been disposed of by hospital staff.”

Access to the unit was considered as the investigation established from staff that entry doors were sometimes propped open and “tailgating” would also occur.

The murder investigation continued six years and featured on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme.

A £20,000 reward for information was also offered.

Despite all of this, no-one has ever been charged with assaulting Mrs Kneale.

Ms Riley said all possible lines of inquiry had been examined and exhausted.

The inquest is now taking place because the active criminal investigation has ended.

The hearing was also told that Mrs Kneale’s family said she was “chatty”, lucid and did not appear agitated when they left her at the hospital late on the evening of 12 November.

The following morning, however, they were told of a “marked deterioration” in her condition.

They agreed to put her on end-of-life care after they were told surgery would only give her a “very poor quality of life”.

The inquest is due to resume on Tuesday.