Cops failed to investigate crazed Tinder ex who stabbed student, 23, 75 times in frenzied car park attack
COPS failed to probe concerns about the stalker Tinder ex who went on to murder a student in a frenzied car park knife attack, a report revealed yesterday.
Dumped Joshua Stimpson, 27, stabbed Molly McLaren 75 times in broad daylight while she sat in her car at a shopping centre in Kent.
He was later jailed for a minimum of 26 years over the bloody knife rampage.
The pair met on Tinder in 2016 - but their relationship broke down the following June.
Stimpson bombarded her with messages and posted sick insults online in the days following their split.
And just 12 days later he launched his harrowing attack - ambushing helpless Molly as she sat trapped in her Citroen C2 on June 29.
THREATENED TO DOWN DATE
But Stimpson had previously displayed stalker behaviour to another ex - who he once threatened to drown.
A domestic homicide review has found that four years before Molly's death police in Staffordshire failed to investigate harrowing claims against him.
The beast - who was living in Stoke-on-Trent at the time - harassed Alexandra Dale after they went on one date.
He sent her a barrage of texts and was suspected of slashing the tyres on her mum's car.
Ms Dale went to the police but the messages were not recorded as a crime and cops said there was insufficient evidence linking him to the car attack.
COPS GAVE HIM WARNING
Instead of arresting him, Stimpson was sent a text by a police officer warning him to stay away from Ms Dale.
Despite the officer's warning Stimpson later threatened to stab and drown the terrified young woman - who was advised not to publicise her whereabouts.
Ms Dale later branded him a "twisted f*** who made my life hell" following his murder conviction.
When Stimpson moved to Kent officers there were not told of his violent past.
He did not appear on police databases because he had never even been cautioned for an offence.
We accept that our investigation in 2013 was not up to the required standards.
Staffordshire Police
Staffordshire Police has since changed its policy meaning officers are now required to record stalking as a crime - even if victims don't want to take matters further.
The officer who dealt with Ms Dale's case received "management advice" and the force admitted its investigation was not up to the required standard.
A spokesman for the force said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Molly McClaren.
"We accept that our investigation in 2013 was not up to the required standards.
"As a result, a police officer received non-disciplinary action - management action by way of words of advice."
'IMPROVEMENTS'
They added: "Significant improvements have been made to our safeguarding and investigative approach to stalking and harassment, but we have more work to do.
"We are committed to ensuring officers and staff understand stalking and harassment and their devastating impact so they can better respond to incidents reported to us."
A host of new systems, training and procedures have been introduced to treat stalking more seriously, the spokesperson added.
Kent Police's review into the case is ongoing.
But the review by Medway Community Safety Partnerships concluded the training given to officers was "robust".
Reports made by Molly and mum Jo days before her murder were dealt with "appropriately and proportionately", the review added.
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