Lucy McHugh: Police issue warning about ‘vigilante-style’ attacks after assault on murdered teen’s stepfather

Late schoolgirl’s mother under police guard following trial

The mother of murdered schoolgirl Lucy McHugh has been given police protection following an attack on her partner.

Stacey White's family and friends said she had faced online abuse and was afraid to visit her daughter’s grave, after Richard Elmes, Lucy’s stepfather, was assaulted outside a shop in Windrush Road, Southampton over the weekend.

The 22-year-old sustained injuries to his head and arm. He was taken to hospital and was later discharged.

It prompted detectives to warn against “vigilante-style” attacks.

Ms White asked to grieve in peace after her daughter’s killer Stephen Nicholson was jailed for life last week at Winchester Crown Court after he was found guilty of the murder and rape of the schoolgirl. He was sentenced to serve a minimum of 33 years in prison.

It emerged at trial that the 25-year-old, who was friends with Lucy’s stepfather, had been lodging with the family.

The court heard that Ms White and Mr Elmes had dismissed the schoolgirl’s claims that she was in a relationship with Nicholson as a “teenage crush”.

Nicholson killed Lucy on 25 July, stabbing her 27 times in a bid to prevent her from revealing his abuse.

Following the attack on Mr Elmes', Wayne Grant, 27 and Charlie Whitemore, 22, have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm in connection with the attack.

“The whole situation is scaring me. It is so dangerous,” a family member said, following the assault. “There is a vendetta against Richard and Stacey. Stacey fears for her life, she doesn’t even feel she can go to Lucy‘s grave for fear of being attacked.”

A friend of Mr Elmes added: “They have police outside their home. It’s not right, it is wrecking their life.”

Hampshire Constabulary did not directly comment on the assault but issued a general warning about all vigilante attacks.

“While we understand that some people feel that justice has not been served through the criminal justice process and that more needs to be done, we cannot condone any form of vigilante-style reaction in relation to any police investigation, past or present,” a spokesperson said. "We want people to be aware of the risks of taking part in this type of action because you could find yourself facing criminal charges.”

Ms White asked said she wanted to “process” what she had heard during the trial earlier this week.

”All I want is for us to be able to process what we have heard in court and grieve for our little girl, not have to live how these people are making us,” she said.

Mr Grant and Mr Whitemore will appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Additional reporting by agencies