A Bristol care home has been fined £125,000 for failing to ensure the safety of an 18-year-old woman who was murdered by a fellow resident.

Alexandra Homes Limited of Kingswood, Bristol, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) Health and Safety At Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 following the murder of Melissa Mathieson by 18-year-old Jason Conroy at Alexandra on 12 October 2014 following prosecution by the HSE.

The investigation found Alexandra House did not have suitably trained and qualified staff in sufficient numbers to adequately deal with Conroy who had a history of sexually motivated violence.

In addition, staff were not sufficiently informed of the risks Conroy posed. He was not adequately monitored and there were insufficient control methods in place to ensure the safety of people, particularly at night.

Conroy was jailed for life in 2015 and ordered to serve a minimum term of 19 years.

Mathieson’s father, James Mathieson, said: “When Melissa found a place at Alexandra House, we made it clear to representatives at Alexandra Homes just how vulnerable she was. We were putting her safety into their care and to me they disregarded this.

“They told us they would look after her, she would be safe and they would help her live a full life. That was not true, as they failed on all accounts, and we lost a beautiful daughter, sister, and granddaughter.

“Although Jason Conroy murdered our daughter, I feel he was another failure of Alexandra Homes as he was in the wrong place with the wrong supervision.”

HSE inspector Caroline Coleman said: “This has been a complex and sensitive investigation. It has taken time, but we now have the right outcome.

“Alexandra Homes was given clear warning signs about Jason Conroy’s behaviour but simply didn’t act upon them. As a result, Melissa Mathieson, a vulnerable young woman lost her life in a setting that was meant to protect and help her.

“While the Care Quality Commission is now the regulator for patient health and safety matters, the legislation is there to help keep people safe and must be followed. Our thoughts remain with Melissa’s family and friends.”