Ashleigh Ewing's family hit out at Mental Health Matters failings

Feb 2 2010 by Garry Willey, The Journal

THE family of a student knifed to death by a paranoid psychotic have hit out at the failings that led to her “untimely, unnecessary and horrific” death.

Northumbria University student Ashleigh Ewing, 22, was killed by Ronald Dixon in Heaton, Newcastle, in May 2006 while working for a mental health charity which had been contracted to supervise his care in the community.

The charity Mental Health Matters was yesterday ordered to pay £50,000 after it admitted two breaches of Health and Safety laws by failing to protect the newly qualified support worker.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that even if Mental Health Matters had discharged its duties correctly it is possible Ewing could still have been attacked by Dixon.

But after the case yesterday, Ashleigh’s family called for “major changes” to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.

A statement read outside the court by a family member said: “In the family’s opinion Ashleigh’s untimely, unnecessary and horrific death was due to systematic failures by various agencies, including Mental Health Matters.

“The family still firmly believe that the extent of Dixon’s health issues and past convictions were not fully known to Ashleigh.

“Since Ashleigh’s death, it has been clear to us that the warning signs were clearly visible, yet no action was taken which would have prevented her death.

“Although we are satisfied that Mental Health Matters have admitted their guilt, it will never take away our sense of loss and despair. People say time is a great healer but we, as a family, feel that it gives us more time to miss and yearn for Ashleigh each and every day.

“So as a testament to her, we hope that today will bring about major changes in the quality of care given to both employees and service users within the mental health sector.

“Ashleigh wanted to make a difference to people’s lives but it is heartbreaking that in order to make this difference she paid with her own life.”