Teenager who was murdered by her abusive partner, 40, months after her 18th birthday 'was failed by the state'

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 19:15 EDT, 17 August 2026 | Updated: 20:12 EDT, 17 August 2026 An 18-year-old girl who was killed by her abusive partner was 'failed by the state', a coroner has said. Natasha Hill passed away after Scott Clifford, 40, left her with black eyes and a fractured skull in a brutal attack at his home in Thamesmead, south-east London, on April 15, 2018. The killer called for an ambulance claiming Natasha had fallen down the stairs but was caught out when paramedics spotted him trying to wash his clothes as they battled to save her life. Clifford was later sentenced to a minimum of 17 years behind bars after being convicted of murder and three other assaults. In a report sent to the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs' Council and the Department for Education, senior coroner Dr Julian Morris has now said there were gaps in safeguarding the girl after she turned 18. Clifford, who had a history of domestic violence, had been subject to a child abduction warning notice after Natasha was assessed to be at high risk.That notice, however, lapsed when Natasha became an adult - and she moved in with him less than a week after turning 18. Dr Morris said: 'Natasha had ongoing, regular injuries, the level of violence increasing post Natasha turning 18, requiring hospital treatment. The police tried to locate her abuser. He could not be found. Natasha Hill, 18, died when she was brutally attacked by her boyfriend at his home in Thamesmead, south-east London in April 2018 Scott Clifford, 40, was sentenced a minimum of 17 years behind bars after being convicted of murder over the attack Clifford and Natasha are pictured together. She moved in with him less than a week after her 18th birthday'Natasha was pronounced dead at his home address in the early hours of April 15 2018.'Natasha had been in care from a young age before she was moved to semi-independent living, which is where she began to be groomed by Clifford.She was found with a major head injury on April 15, 2018, and Clifford told police she had fallen down the stairs after spending the day drinking. He said he carried her back upstairs after her fall as he had not noticed any injuries.Dr Morris, who led an inquest into Natasha's death, warned authorities that further deaths could occur if action is not taken.He said teenagers approaching 18 should be formally reviewed by an adult safeguarding team and thought should be given to creating a young person's team covering the transition from 18 to 22.The coroner also said thought should be given to creating a warning notice which can cover young people over the age of 18.And he suggested the creation of a single national policy for policing and child sexual exploitation.In a response to Dr Morris's report the Home Office said tackling violence against women and girls is a top government priority and they are working to create a consistent, victim-centred response to child sexual exploitation.A spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs' Council said the support provided to Natasha had been 'fragmented rather than integrated' and challenges were posed by her moving between local authority and policing areas.They said: 'If a case with the same horrific circumstances experienced by Natasha presented today, safeguarding partners would be expected to adopt a fundamentally different approach, recognising that vulnerability, exploitation and coercive control do not cease when a young person reaches adulthood.'The Department for Education said they are working to improve transitions into adult social care and improve integration between different local areas.