‘I think everything got on top of her’

OPEN VERDICT AFTER YOUNG MUM FOUND HANGED AT HER HOME

A YOUNG mum with a history of self-harm was found hanged at her home in Oldham during last summer’s lockdown, an inquest heard.

Laura Hoy, 28, had struggled with depression since her late teens and had taken several ‘impulsive overdoses’ in the past. In the months before her death on July 10 last year Ms Hoy and her fiancé Ben Wright had been having relationship problems, which may have been exacerbated by the coronavirus lockdown, the inquest heard.

Mr Wright found Ms Hoy, who had a young daughter, hanged in the spare room of their home in Royton.

Post mortem toxicology tests found she had alcohol and cocaine in her blood.

Ms Hoy’s mum Tracey Hoy told the inquest that from her late teens onwards her daughter ‘wasn’t completely happy.’

Mrs Hoy said: “She had ups and downs. She struggled a bit. She was anxious. I think she was drinking and that didn’t help. I think she felt under pressure and trapped, especially after her daughter was born. She was in the house on her own a lot because Ben was working and I just think everything got on top of her.”

The inquest heard Ms Hoy, a waitress, was a fairly heavy drinker and would take cocaine which Mr Wright bought, often ‘on the tick,’ once or twice a week.

On her 28th birthday on July 7, 2020, the couple rowed because Mr Wright hadn’t bought her a gift or a card. She left the house and went to spend the day with friends. When she returned just after midnight the couple began arguing again.

Ms Hoy’s friends, who overheard the row over the phone, called the police because they were concerned the argument was taking place in front of the child and because they suspected cocaine was in the house. Police attended but no complaints were filed and officers left.

The night before she died Laura stayed up until the early hours chatting to friends on the phone, the inquest heard.

About 7am the following morning Mr Wright found her hanged in the spare room of their house. She hadn’t left a note.

Senior coroner Joanne Kearsley recorded an open conclusion.

She said: “Laura was a young woman who had a daughter and was clearly surrounded by friends and family who loved and cared for her very much.

“I think Laura was a young woman who could, now and then, act in a very impulsive way when she was feeling low.

“I think Laura acted impulsively. Did she intend to end her life? There is no evidence before me that that was her intention.”