Grooming gang victim killed herself, coroner says

A woman who was subjected to abuse by members of the Rochdale child grooming gangs killed herself, a coroner has ruled. Charlotte Tetley, 33, died after being hit by a train in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on 24 September last year. The inquest heard she had suffered significant sexual abuse at the hands of a child sex ring and had moved to Macclesfield in July 2023 after her abuser moved back to Rochdale.

South Cheshire coroner Sarah Murphy said Ms Tetley was discharged from hospital despite expressing suicidal thoughts, and cautioned health bosses to take action to prevent future deaths. She had previously been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance misuse, the inquest heard. In a Prevention of Future Deaths report, the coroner said Ms Tetley had a complex longstanding mental health history and had turned to drugs as a coping mechanism following sexual abuse. Ms Murphy noted that she had taken multiple overdoses with intent to end life.

The coroner said she was discharged from hospital without a proper assessment. There was a concern that future deaths could occur unless action was taken, according to the Prevention of Future Deaths report. The inquest heard that neither police nor paramedics were instructed to locate her when she went missing.

This case sits within the wider Rochdale grooming gangs saga. A damning report published last year found that police and council bosses left children at the mercy of grooming gangs in Rochdale, reflecting long-standing safeguarding failures that prompted renewed scrutiny of local authorities.

The inquest highlighted how trauma and mental health struggles intersected with safeguarding failures, underscoring gaps in support for victims of abuse and the lasting impact of sexual violence. The coroner urged health and social care leaders to review discharge practices, mental health assessments, and safeguarding protocols to prevent similar tragedies.