A COUPLE targeted by a crossbow attack which left one of them dead had reported the suspect to the police a year before he struck, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said yesterday.

Shane Gilmer was murdered at his home in Southburn near Driffield, Humberside, on January 12 and his partner Laura Sugden was also seriously injured.

The murder suspect, their neighbour Anthony Howarth, was found dead in a car in North Yorkshire the next day.

The IOPC said the couple had made “a number of reports” about Mr Howarth, dating back to January 2017.

It will now investigate Humberside Police’s response to their complaints, the nature of the contact with police, how this was recorded and how the force responded.

The IOPC added that the manhunt for Mr Howarth and his death were not part of the investigation.

An inquest into Mr Gilmer’s murder is due to be held later.