The daughters of a 38-year-old fitness instructor murdered by a stalker who dragged her out of bed have lost a High Court damages fight with police and health authority bosses.

Slaughterman John McFarlane shot Mary Griffiths in the chest with a bolt gun used for killing cattle after breaking into her home in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, nine years ago.

He was subsequently jailed for a minimum of 20 years.

Evidence showed that McFarlane had been stalking and harassing Ms Griffiths and that she had called police the day before she died and said she was “really frightened”.

John McFarlane
John McFarlane had a history of mental health issues dating back 15 years, a report found (Suffolk Constabulary/PA)

Her three daughters, Jessica, Hannah, and Sophie, say her death was preventable.

They sued Suffolk Police and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, arguing that if proper steps had been taken their mother would not have been murdered.

A judge on Wednesday dismissed their claims.

Mr Justice Ouseley had analysed evidence at a High Court trial in London in November 2017.

Police and health authority bosses had disputed the claims against them.