A coroner has ruled that a victim of the Rochdale grooming gang was failed by police and the NHS in the weeks leading up to her death. Charlotte Tetley, 33, died after being struck by a train in Macclesfield on 24 September 2024. She had been a victim of the sex trafficking ring in Greater Manchester and had a history of mental health issues, including emotional unstable personality disorder and PTSD.
The inquest at Warrington Coroner's Court heard that Ms Tetley was removed from a mental health inpatient bed list by NHS staff at Macclesfield Community Health Team on 25 June 2024, before a mental health review had taken place. Just days before her death, police officers refused to respond when staff at Macclesfield Hospital raised concerns for her welfare, citing the 'Right Place Right Person' policy.
Coroner Sarah Murphy said that Ms Tetley had been under the Macclesfield Community Mental Health Team since July 2023 after moving from Rochdale following her abuser's return. She had taken multiple overdoses and had expressed suicidal thoughts, including intentions to jump in front of a train. On 18 September 2024, she was removed from railway tracks by British Transport Police and taken to hospital, but left before being reviewed by the mental health team.
Despite staff contacting Cheshire Police to report her as a high-risk missing person, officers refused to deploy a response vehicle. The ambulance service also declined to act due to her unknown whereabouts. Ms Murphy has written to Cheshire Police and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust, demanding action to prevent further deaths.
