Sacked detective loses her appeal

A police officer who was sacked after the murder of a young showjumper has lost an appeal against her dismissal.

Tania Moore, 26, was killed by her ex-boyfriend Mark Dyche in March 2004. He was jailed for life for her murder after a trial in 2005.

He ran her car off the road near Alkmonton, Derbys, before shooting her.

Det Con Louise Howarth, who had investigated claims of an earlier assault, has had her dismissal from the police upheld.

The dismissal was upheld after a chief constable's review carried out by the head of West Midlands Police, Sir Paul Scott-Lee.

Another officer was demoted and four others were reprimanded for their involvement.

Threats to kill

The six officers had admitted failing in their duties regarding a robbery investigation involving Ms Moore.

An earlier report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission said: "Collective failure by officers and their supervisors in Ashbourne Division meant no meaningful investigation took place."

It added: "Basic lines of inquiry were never pursued - including taking key statements from Ms Moore and her family and investigating complaints against Dyche."

During the Dyche's murder trial, the court heard from the victim's friends that he had repeatedly threatened to kill her, sent hundreds of threatening text messages and warned other men to stay away from her.