Day 6 Jessie’s Inquest: Simon Hellyer

On the morning of Day 6 the coroner asked her Coroner’s Officer to read the statement of Simon Hellyer onto the record. I was not able to catch all of it, but report what I did catch below. This is as good a time as any to remind people that I am contemporaneously reporting Jessie’s […]

Day 6 Jessie’s Inquest: Dr Judy Eaton

The first witness on Day 6 of Jessie’s inquest was Dr Judy Eaton. She gave an affirmation and her full name to the court. Dr Eaton told the court that she is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and Chartered with the British Psychological Society.   Asked by the […]

Day 5 Jessie’s Inquest: Jason Brown, IMC Locums

The final witness to give evidence on Day 5 of Jessie’s was Jason Brown from IMC Locums. The coroner asked him to come forward, he gave an affirmation and told the court that he is Associate Director of IMC Locums, a healthcare recruitment agency. Coroner: Thank you. I’ll start by asking you to tell the […]

Day 4 and 5 Jessie’s inquest: Healthcare Assistants and Nursing Staff, Caburn Ward

The court heard evidence from two nurses and eight healthcare assistants that were working at Caburn Ward, Mill View Hospital during Jessie’s admission. I have tried to report Jessie’s inquest in line with the Samaritans media guidance on inquest reporting. The post mortem evidence shared on Day 1 found that Jessie died as a result […]

Day 4 Jessie Inquest: Mr Seares and Jack Pumphrey

At the start of Day 4 the coroner explained to the jury that they would be hearing from staff at Mill View Hospital today, but before then she would ask Jessie’s father, Andy Seares, to come forward to clarify some things for them. Andy Seares / Disclosure and Barring Service Before giving further evidence the […]

Day 3 Jessie Inquest: Steve Lawton and Dr Jemima Gregory

Before the court adjourned for lunch on Day 3 the coroner said that she would ask her Coroner’s Officer, to read the statement of Steve Lawton onto the record. Steve Lawton / Social Worker Brighton and Hove City Council His statement was dated 29 September 2022 and in it he told the court that he […]

Days 2 and 3 Jessie’s inquest: Dr Cuthbert

Doctor Sharon Cuthbert gave her evidence in the afternoon of Day 2 and morning of Day 3 of Jessie’s inquest. Dr Cuthbert / Consultant Psychiatrist and Jessie’s Responsible Clinician Day 2 She told the court she is employed as a Consultant Psychiatrist at Mill View Hospital and works on Caburn Ward. The coroner asked her […]

Day 2 Jessie’s inquest: Dr Simon Rowe

The first witness after lunch on day two was Dr Simon Rowe, a principal clinical psychologist. He told the coroner that he had qualified in January 2010. The coroner said that she would ask a few questions relating to the Transforming Care Autism Team assessment, known as a TCAP. Dr Rowe told the court that […]

Day 2 Jessie’s Inquest: Michelle Cook

The second witness on Day 2 gave her evidence before the court adjourned for lunch. Michelle Cook / Social Worker East Sussex County Council The coroner explained to her the format of proceedings and took her through her evidence. Ms Cook told the court she was a social worker for East Sussex County Council and […]

Day 2 Jessie’s inquest: Safeguarding enquiry

There was some difficulty with technical connections this morning as the first witness was joining remotely and it was hard for the jurors to hear. The coroner rose part way through her evidence for the clerks to try and find a better solution, which they did. Ms Woolfenden was accompanied by a senior colleague, Mr […]