A DAMNING report into the case of a BBC journalist beaten to death by his son at their Dorset home has revealed there are “many lessons to be learned”.

An independent Domestic Homicide Review, carried out following the brutal death of ex-BBC radio presenter Winton Cooper, studied material provided by the Dorset Probation Trust and Dorset Police as well as historical information about the family.

It concluded lessons could be learned in relation to risk assessment, risk management, communication between agencies and access to historical information.

Mr Cooper, 64, suffered horrific head injuries when he was attacked by 24-year-old Joseph Cooper at the home they shared in Marnhull, near Sturminster Newton, in April 2011.

Joseph Cooper pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and was detained under Sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act.

The review by Dorset Community Safety Partnership reveals a long-running history of domestic violence between Winton Cooper, Joseph Cooper and other members of their family dating back to 1998.

The family split up for many years but Joseph moved back in with his father in early 2009 and was arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder him later that year, which eventually led to a conviction for assault causing actual bodily harm in March 2010.

Despite the conviction, Joseph moved back into his father's home and Dorset Police had no further contact with them.

Dorset Probation Trust identified accommodation, alcohol, thinking and behaviour as problem areas and conducted 19 formal appointments and numerous phone calls.

Following the death of Winton Cooper, they identified several areas of poor practice and both police and probation said they also believed Joseph Cooper to be at risk from his father.

Recommendations have been sent to the Dorset County Domestic Violence Strategy Group.

Dorset Community Safety Partnership chairman Cllr Ray Nottage said: “This was a very tragic case and I'd like to offer our sincere condolences to the family.

“Although such cases are very rare, the review, which examines the circumstances of this case and agencies involvement with the family, allows us to look at how organisations work together to tackle domestic abuse. From the very start we have been determined to learn from this and have addressed each and every recommendation made in the report.

“We want to create safer communities, so it is vital that victims of domestic abuse, their friends, family and the wider community report abuse to the police, GP or other local support agency.”

  • Domestic Homicide reviews (DHRs) were established under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and came into force in April 2011.

Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) are responsible for undertaking DHRs where the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by a relative, household member or someone he or she has been in an intimate relationship with.

A review panel, consisting of representatives from statutory and voluntary agencies, is commissioned to undertake the DHR. The panel reviews each agency's involvement in the case and makes recommendations to improve responses in the future.