Victim kills herself after abuse

A victim of the Rochdale child grooming gangs killed herself after years of torment over the scandal, a coroner has ruled.

Charlotte Tetley, 33, was hit by a train in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on 24 September last year.

Her 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 had 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.

The inquest heard Ms Tetley had previously been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance misuse.

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 said: “She had taken multiple previous overdoses with intent to end life.”

The coroner suggested Ms Tetley was discharged from hospital without a proper assessment.

She said: “In my opinion, there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.”

The inquest heard neither police nor paramedics were instructed to find her when she went missing.

Last year, a damning report found police and council bosses left children at the mercy of grooming gangs in Rochdale.