Ashleigh had talked about taking her life, inquest hears
ATEENAGER told therapists she was ‘having problems’ with school friends and was having suicidal thoughts before she was found dead at home, an inquest heard.
Ashleigh Bowes was just 14 when she died at her home on Newquay Drive in Macclesfield last year.
The hearing at Warrington Town Hall heard Ashleigh, a pupil at Fallibroome Academy, had been having problems at school, although representatives of the school denied she was being bullied.
Ashleigh was referred to The Priory by her GP for treatment for an eating disorder and depression in November 2013 and a few months after starting day care and later undergoing cognitive behavioural therapy sessions, she told her psychiatrist she was having suicidal thoughts, the inquest heard.
She started taking anti depressants in February 2014.
One account from a therapist which was read in court said Ashleigh told her she wanted to ‘take tablets and go to sleep forever’.
Claire Evans, the cognitive behavioural psychotherapist who treated Ashleigh, said factors which contributed to her distress included concerns over her parents’ divorce and problems with people at school.
She added: “She felt she wasn’t good enough and didn’t fit in.
“She had fleeting suicidal thoughts where she wanted to end her distress but had not made any plans to take her own life.”
Therapists at The Priory reported Ashleigh felt bet-
Assistant coroner for Cheshire Alan Moore asked Stuart Smalley, assistant principal for pastoral care at the school, whether there were any incidents of Ashleigh being bullied.
Mr Smalley replied: “Not to my knowledge.”
He added: “I was not aware of any bullying in relation to Ashleigh.
“Ashleigh was charming, funny and smiley. She seemed happy and content, right up until we broke up for summer.
“There were minor issues going on with girls being girls but nothing significant. We were surprised and saddened to hear what happened.”
The four day inquest is due to conclude on Thursday. Proceeding