MERSEYSIDE Police apologised to the family of a nurse murdered by her estranged husband.

An independent probe found failings within the force when Kate Mott reported that she was being harassed by her husband, Brent, whom she had obtained a court order against.

Errors in the police system meant that officers never realised that Mrs Mott had an injuntion against the 32-year-old.

The Southport nurse was found strangled to death in January 2010 in a car crash faked by Mott, one month after raising concerns with the police.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission today said Mrs Mott’s complaint was treated as “adults quarrelling over divorce proceedings”.

Officers failed to act and advised Mrs Mott to contact her solicitors. Had they realised Brent Mott was subject to a non-molestation order, a police response would have been triggered.

IPCC Commissioner Naseem Malik said: 'The murder of Kate Mott was a terrible tragedy.

'She was trying to escape an oppressive and abusive relationship.

'She had taken the appropriate legal steps to protect herself, but when she turned to Merseyside Police for assistance she clearly did not receive the level of service she was entitled to.”