Family seeks accountability after Laura Winham was found dead in her flat. 3 years passed before the discovery. Neglect alleged.
Her brother found her body in her flat on May 24, 2021. She was 41. He found her after asking police to check because they were worried about her safety.
The court couldn’t find the exact cause or date of death. A calendar stopped at November 1, 2017. The coroner noted “lost opportunities,” citing that several groups, including the council and other agencies, could have helped her.
The council offered advice by letter and call after a police referral in 2017, but they did not visit her property. The coroner called their actions “perfunctory” but stated that this did not cause her death.
The family says more should have happened, as police raised concerns about food, money, and her lack of friends or family. The council simply sending a letter missed a huge chance to help, according to the family. She was at risk, but they ignored her.
Her diary showed she could not cope alone; she had to fend for herself. The family believes a quick visit could have saved her life.
The family last saw Laura in 2009 and social media contact ended in 2014. She said contact was bad for her, so the family respected her wishes but still checked on her car. They want change in the system to help other families and support people with mental illness, aiming to bring people back into support systems.
They want Laura remembered well as bright, fun, and caring, with an infectious laugh and a love for practical jokes. She was also nurturing.
The family reached out to offer support, but her mental health got worse. Unable to deal with it themselves, they needed to put her in a safe unit for proper help. They believed they did the right thing, as she had a home and got benefits. They hoped for her recovery but were never able to get close to her again. Mental health took Laura’s life.
The court stated the council could have helped, and the housing group needed to flag her for more support than they thought. The DWP also should have done more after they stopped her disability payments because she did not reapply due to medical checks stressing her out too much.
Again, the coroner could not link these failures to her death. The council was asked for a statement but gave none at the time. The family lawyer said the death was devastating.
The family tried their best to help her, backing away when it seemed best, thinking experts would help her most. It did not work out that way, according to the lawyer, who stated her family did everything possible.