Latest news with #Asperger'ssyndrome
Glasgow Times
11-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Care home staff unaware of killer's history before teenager's murder
Melissa Mathieson, 18, was strangled by Jason Conroy at Alexandra House, which provided residential care for adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome, in Bristol, in October 2014. Conroy, now 28, was jailed for life for the sexually motivated killing. Avon Coroner's Court heard how Conroy moved to Alexandra House two months before the murder, after trying to strangle a teacher at a residential school. He had also previously tried to kill his mother. Melissa Mathieson with her father James (Family Handout/PA) Miss Mathieson, who was from Windsor, Berkshire, had been sent to Alexandra House by social services when she turned 18, having spent the previous two years in a series of different placements. Teachers at Conroy's previous school had shared Conroy's history with the home's manager, Yvonne Hin, including a detailed report from a forensic psychologist, and also passed on details of their risk assessments and care plans. Several staff told the hearing they would never have been alone with Conroy if they knew of the risk he posed to others, and described reporting their concerns to supervisors. Michelle Forde, a support worker, said Conroy made her feel 'afraid' and after an incident at a swimming pool, spoke to her team supervisor, Elaine Coleman. 'I queried it with Elaine Coleman whether he was a sexual predator. She said there was nothing in his care plan,' she replied. Mrs Forde said she knew nothing about Conroy's history of 'opportunistic sexualised behaviour' until after Melissa's death, and had no knowledge of the measures in place at his previous placement. 'No, we were just told he came from a boarding school and that was it. 'If I knew any of that I would not ever have worked with him – putting us all at risk,' she said. 'A disgrace. We had one-to-one with him – all of the female staff we had.' Colleague Michelle Cole told the hearing of reporting her concerns about him, including Melissa saying Conroy was always watching her. 'I asked to speak with Elaine Coleman privately in the office, and reporting those incidents to her,' she said. 'She said she would keep an eye on things. I felt like I wasn't listened to and not taken seriously. 'I just didn't feel it was being acted upon, and I was just making something out of nothing – that's what it felt like. 'I would never have been alone with him if I had known.' Jason Conroy is serving a life sentence for the murder of Melissa Mathieson (Avon and Somerset Police/PA) Mrs Cole said that on the night Melissa died, Mrs Coleman told the night staff to walk Melissa to her room and lock her door. 'She told them to know where Jason was at all times,' she said. Diane Turner, another support worker, said Conroy would make her feel 'very intimidated' and she said Melissa had told her Conroy would follow her around. Asked about her knowledge of him, she replied: 'All I knew was that he had to be two to one with the female staff.' Mrs Coleman, a team supervisor at Alexandra House, said staff had 'basic information' about Conroy and were not told of previous incidents. 'He was also a little bit funny. He would stare at you,' she said. 'I couldn't put my finger on it, he was really scary, really glazy-eyed. He had one-to-one staffing in the house.' She said Conroy's room had an alarm which would sound if his door was opened, but this was switched off and he was free to move around. 'I was told he didn't need it,' she said. 'I said to other staff I wanted to know where he was at all times. One said to me that Melissa had told her she was worried about Jason, and she was scared.' She said she only found out about Conroy's predatory sexual history after the murder, and had she known she would have put in extra measures. 'We didn't know Jason was as dangerous as he was,' she added. 'If I had seen something within his notes I would have made sure that everybody was aware of that and made sure there was two-to-one staffing.' The inquest was adjourned until Monday.
Western Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Western Telegraph
Care home staff unaware of killer's history before teenager's murder
Melissa Mathieson, 18, was strangled by Jason Conroy at Alexandra House, which provided residential care for adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome, in Bristol, in October 2014. Conroy, now 28, was jailed for life for the sexually motivated killing. Avon Coroner's Court heard how Conroy moved to Alexandra House two months before the murder, after trying to strangle a teacher at a residential school. He had also previously tried to kill his mother. Melissa Mathieson with her father James (Family Handout/PA) Miss Mathieson, who was from Windsor, Berkshire, had been sent to Alexandra House by social services when she turned 18, having spent the previous two years in a series of different placements. Teachers at Conroy's previous school had shared Conroy's history with the home's manager, Yvonne Hin, including a detailed report from a forensic psychologist, and also passed on details of their risk assessments and care plans. Several staff told the hearing they would never have been alone with Conroy if they knew of the risk he posed to others, and described reporting their concerns to supervisors. Michelle Forde, a support worker, said Conroy made her feel 'afraid' and after an incident at a swimming pool, spoke to her team supervisor, Elaine Coleman. 'I queried it with Elaine Coleman whether he was a sexual predator. She said there was nothing in his care plan,' she replied. We didn't know Jason was as dangerous as he was Team supervisor Elaine Coleman Mrs Forde said she knew nothing about Conroy's history of 'opportunistic sexualised behaviour' until after Melissa's death, and had no knowledge of the measures in place at his previous placement. 'No, we were just told he came from a boarding school and that was it. 'If I knew any of that I would not ever have worked with him – putting us all at risk,' she said. 'A disgrace. We had one-to-one with him – all of the female staff we had.' Colleague Michelle Cole told the hearing of reporting her concerns about him, including Melissa saying Conroy was always watching her. 'I asked to speak with Elaine Coleman privately in the office, and reporting those incidents to her,' she said. 'She said she would keep an eye on things. I felt like I wasn't listened to and not taken seriously. 'I just didn't feel it was being acted upon, and I was just making something out of nothing – that's what it felt like. 'I would never have been alone with him if I had known.' Jason Conroy is serving a life sentence for the murder of Melissa Mathieson (Avon and Somerset Police/PA) Mrs Cole said that on the night Melissa died, Mrs Coleman told the night staff to walk Melissa to her room and lock her door. 'She told them to know where Jason was at all times,' she said. Diane Turner, another support worker, said Conroy would make her feel 'very intimidated' and she said Melissa had told her Conroy would follow her around. Asked about her knowledge of him, she replied: 'All I knew was that he had to be two to one with the female staff.' Mrs Coleman, a team supervisor at Alexandra House, said staff had 'basic information' about Conroy and were not told of previous incidents. 'He was also a little bit funny. He would stare at you,' she said. 'I couldn't put my finger on it, he was really scary, really glazy-eyed. He had one-to-one staffing in the house.' She said Conroy's room had an alarm which would sound if his door was opened, but this was switched off and he was free to move around. 'I was told he didn't need it,' she said. 'I said to other staff I wanted to know where he was at all times. One said to me that Melissa had told her she was worried about Jason, and she was scared.' She said she only found out about Conroy's predatory sexual history after the murder, and had she known she would have put in extra measures. 'We didn't know Jason was as dangerous as he was,' she added. 'If I had seen something within his notes I would have made sure that everybody was aware of that and made sure there was two-to-one staffing.' The inquest was adjourned until Monday.
South Wales Guardian
08-07-2025
- South Wales Guardian
School staff warned care home that resident posed danger to others, inquest told
Melissa Mathieson, 18, was strangled by Jason Conroy at Alexandra House, which provided residential care for adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome, in Bristol, in October 2014. Conroy, now aged 28, was jailed for life for the sexually motivated killing. Avon Coroner's Court heard how Conroy moved to Alexandra House two months before the murder after trying to strangle a teacher at a residential school. He had also previously tried to kill his mother. Sally Kane, an educational psychologist, said the school was aware of the risk Conroy posed to others because it had received information from his previous placement. 'It became clear that they were not dealing with a young adolescent with learning difficulties, but someone with clear difficulties with behaviour around sexual boundaries,' she told the inquest. 'We upped the risk assessment. We were very concerned and put two staff members with Jason at all times during the day. 'We knew there was a risk, but we were not quite sure of the details of the incident with his mother and duvet.' After the incident with the teacher, Dr Hilary Grant, a forensic psychologist, was commissioned to produce a report on Conroy which concluded that he posed a physical risk due to his sexualised behaviour. The school decided it was not a suitable environment for Conroy, and he moved to Bristol in the summer of 2014. Ms Kane told the inquest she met with Yvonne Hin, the then-manager of Alexandra House, ahead of the move to discuss Conroy. 'I went through the documents with her. We were really worried about the risk not being managed and that's why the documents were sent more than once and shared,' she said. 'That's why the Dr Grant report was shared in full because if we started quoting bits of the report or talking about some of it, you would lose the overall picture of the report. 'We shared the report with Jason's local authority, States of Guernsey, and I am sure they shared it with them. 'We were all on high alert because of the level of risk we were managing. He presented a risk of physical sexual violence.' Referring to the meeting with Ms Hin, the witness said she remembered being told there were no clinical staff on site and residents were allowed to use external NHS services. 'I remember being absolutely aghast as she seemed to have no understanding of the risk,' she said. 'I was completely taken aback and a bit shocked. I think I went up to the office to make sure these documents were sent very soon after, if not the same day.' The inquest heard that among the documents was a covering letter, in which Ms Kane had written about Conroy's 'successful placement and ready to move to an adult placement'. Asked whether she regretted writing that letter, Ms Kane said: 'I didn't realise it was going to be taken out of context. 'It was with a forensic psychiatric report which said he was a high risk and had attempted to murder someone. 'With hindsight, next time I will make sure every document has the full picture built in, not just in the overall context of all the documents together.' The inquest heard Miss Mathieson, who was from Windsor, Berkshire, had been sent to Alexandra House by social services when she turned 18, having spent the previous two years in a series of different placements. Earlier, the hearing heard from Miss Mathieson's father, James, who said he felt 'helpless' because he and his wife Karen had not been listened to by social services. 'All we had ever wanted was to be given the support we needed to become Melissa's primary carers and to try to provide her with a stable environment she needed the most to thrive,' he said. 'In the end, it was me who said to Karen that Melissa should go to Alexandra House. 'How wrong I was. I have to live with the consequences of that every day. 'I spoke to Melissa on the night before she died. It was a nice conversation. She sounded tired. I told her to go to bed as she needed to sleep. 'She was killed in her sleep. I have to live with that.' Mr Mathieson, a former Army serviceman, said: 'Karen and I blame Jason Conroy for our daughter's death. 'But at the same time, how can we blame him when he had said what he was going to do to professionals and was allowed to carry it out. 'We blame the people who put him there with Melissa. 'I find it hard to accept my daughter went to a place of safety and died, whereas I spent 22 years in the Army in many difficult situations and didn't get a scratch. Life is not fair.'
North Wales Chronicle
08-07-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
School staff warned care home that resident posed danger to others, inquest told
Melissa Mathieson, 18, was strangled by Jason Conroy at Alexandra House, which provided residential care for adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome, in Bristol, in October 2014. Conroy, now aged 28, was jailed for life for the sexually motivated killing. Avon Coroner's Court heard how Conroy moved to Alexandra House two months before the murder after trying to strangle a teacher at a residential school. He had also previously tried to kill his mother. Sally Kane, an educational psychologist, said the school was aware of the risk Conroy posed to others because it had received information from his previous placement. 'It became clear that they were not dealing with a young adolescent with learning difficulties, but someone with clear difficulties with behaviour around sexual boundaries,' she told the inquest. 'We upped the risk assessment. We were very concerned and put two staff members with Jason at all times during the day. 'We knew there was a risk, but we were not quite sure of the details of the incident with his mother and duvet.' After the incident with the teacher, Dr Hilary Grant, a forensic psychologist, was commissioned to produce a report on Conroy which concluded that he posed a physical risk due to his sexualised behaviour. The school decided it was not a suitable environment for Conroy, and he moved to Bristol in the summer of 2014. Ms Kane told the inquest she met with Yvonne Hin, the then-manager of Alexandra House, ahead of the move to discuss Conroy. 'I went through the documents with her. We were really worried about the risk not being managed and that's why the documents were sent more than once and shared,' she said. 'That's why the Dr Grant report was shared in full because if we started quoting bits of the report or talking about some of it, you would lose the overall picture of the report. 'We shared the report with Jason's local authority, States of Guernsey, and I am sure they shared it with them. 'We were all on high alert because of the level of risk we were managing. He presented a risk of physical sexual violence.' Referring to the meeting with Ms Hin, the witness said she remembered being told there were no clinical staff on site and residents were allowed to use external NHS services. 'I remember being absolutely aghast as she seemed to have no understanding of the risk,' she said. 'I was completely taken aback and a bit shocked. I think I went up to the office to make sure these documents were sent very soon after, if not the same day.' The inquest heard that among the documents was a covering letter, in which Ms Kane had written about Conroy's 'successful placement and ready to move to an adult placement'. Asked whether she regretted writing that letter, Ms Kane said: 'I didn't realise it was going to be taken out of context. 'It was with a forensic psychiatric report which said he was a high risk and had attempted to murder someone. 'With hindsight, next time I will make sure every document has the full picture built in, not just in the overall context of all the documents together.' The inquest heard Miss Mathieson, who was from Windsor, Berkshire, had been sent to Alexandra House by social services when she turned 18, having spent the previous two years in a series of different placements. Earlier, the hearing heard from Miss Mathieson's father, James, who said he felt 'helpless' because he and his wife Karen had not been listened to by social services. 'All we had ever wanted was to be given the support we needed to become Melissa's primary carers and to try to provide her with a stable environment she needed the most to thrive,' he said. 'In the end, it was me who said to Karen that Melissa should go to Alexandra House. 'How wrong I was. I have to live with the consequences of that every day. 'I spoke to Melissa on the night before she died. It was a nice conversation. She sounded tired. I told her to go to bed as she needed to sleep. 'She was killed in her sleep. I have to live with that.' Mr Mathieson, a former Army serviceman, said: 'Karen and I blame Jason Conroy for our daughter's death. 'But at the same time, how can we blame him when he had said what he was going to do to professionals and was allowed to carry it out. 'We blame the people who put him there with Melissa. 'I find it hard to accept my daughter went to a place of safety and died, whereas I spent 22 years in the Army in many difficult situations and didn't get a scratch. Life is not fair.'
Rhyl Journal
08-07-2025
- Rhyl Journal
School staff warned care home that resident posed danger to others, inquest told
Melissa Mathieson, 18, was strangled by Jason Conroy at Alexandra House, which provided residential care for adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome, in Bristol, in October 2014. Conroy, now aged 28, was jailed for life for the sexually motivated killing. Avon Coroner's Court heard how Conroy moved to Alexandra House two months before the murder after trying to strangle a teacher at a residential school. He had also previously tried to kill his mother. Sally Kane, an educational psychologist, said the school was aware of the risk Conroy posed to others because it had received information from his previous placement. 'It became clear that they were not dealing with a young adolescent with learning difficulties, but someone with clear difficulties with behaviour around sexual boundaries,' she told the inquest. 'We upped the risk assessment. We were very concerned and put two staff members with Jason at all times during the day. 'We knew there was a risk, but we were not quite sure of the details of the incident with his mother and duvet.' After the incident with the teacher, Dr Hilary Grant, a forensic psychologist, was commissioned to produce a report on Conroy which concluded that he posed a physical risk due to his sexualised behaviour. The school decided it was not a suitable environment for Conroy, and he moved to Bristol in the summer of 2014. Ms Kane told the inquest she met with Yvonne Hin, the then-manager of Alexandra House, ahead of the move to discuss Conroy. 'I went through the documents with her. We were really worried about the risk not being managed and that's why the documents were sent more than once and shared,' she said. 'That's why the Dr Grant report was shared in full because if we started quoting bits of the report or talking about some of it, you would lose the overall picture of the report. 'We shared the report with Jason's local authority, States of Guernsey, and I am sure they shared it with them. 'We were all on high alert because of the level of risk we were managing. He presented a risk of physical sexual violence.' Referring to the meeting with Ms Hin, the witness said she remembered being told there were no clinical staff on site and residents were allowed to use external NHS services. 'I remember being absolutely aghast as she seemed to have no understanding of the risk,' she said. 'I was completely taken aback and a bit shocked. I think I went up to the office to make sure these documents were sent very soon after, if not the same day.' The inquest heard that among the documents was a covering letter, in which Ms Kane had written about Conroy's 'successful placement and ready to move to an adult placement'. Asked whether she regretted writing that letter, Ms Kane said: 'I didn't realise it was going to be taken out of context. 'It was with a forensic psychiatric report which said he was a high risk and had attempted to murder someone. 'With hindsight, next time I will make sure every document has the full picture built in, not just in the overall context of all the documents together.' The inquest heard Miss Mathieson, who was from Windsor, Berkshire, had been sent to Alexandra House by social services when she turned 18, having spent the previous two years in a series of different placements. Earlier, the hearing heard from Miss Mathieson's father, James, who said he felt 'helpless' because he and his wife Karen had not been listened to by social services. 'All we had ever wanted was to be given the support we needed to become Melissa's primary carers and to try to provide her with a stable environment she needed the most to thrive,' he said. 'In the end, it was me who said to Karen that Melissa should go to Alexandra House. 'How wrong I was. I have to live with the consequences of that every day. 'I spoke to Melissa on the night before she died. It was a nice conversation. She sounded tired. I told her to go to bed as she needed to sleep. 'She was killed in her sleep. I have to live with that.' Mr Mathieson, a former Army serviceman, said: 'Karen and I blame Jason Conroy for our daughter's death. 'But at the same time, how can we blame him when he had said what he was going to do to professionals and was allowed to carry it out. 'We blame the people who put him there with Melissa. 'I find it hard to accept my daughter went to a place of safety and died, whereas I spent 22 years in the Army in many difficult situations and didn't get a scratch. Life is not fair.'
