A Surbiton couple whose son was found hanged in his prison cell have said they suffered a “year of hell” when they were suspected of historic sexual abuse.
Andrew and June Beadle, the mother and stepfather of Chessington rapist Robert Richards, were arrested on suspicion of historical rape and sexual abuse in April 2015. Almost a year later, the case against them has been completely dropped. Richards was found dead days before his sentencing for the horrific rape of a pensioner that left his victim in hospital.
Richards, 22, was found guilty of raping and attempting to murder a woman in her 70s in October 2013. The former labourer was found unresponsive in his cell on July 29, 2014. The Beadles, who have been married for 15 years, were woken at about 6am by “10 or 15” police officers at their door in Elm Road on April 10, 2015.
The couple were told in November that the investigation into the alleged abuse would not be pursued but had to wait until last week for a letter from their solicitor that confirmed police would take no further action.
Coroner Fiona Wilcox has called for a formal investigation into deaths at Wandsworth Prison after 11 men, including Richards, died at the category B prison between July 2014 and July 2015.
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