INQUEST RULES VALE BOSS’S DAUGHTER TOOK OWN LIFE

THE teenage daughter of Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke committed suicide on Valentine’s Day, an inquest has ruled.

Ellie Clarke was found hanged at a flat following a bust-up with her boyfriend which led to police being called.

The 18-year-old was an ‘intelligent young lady with ambition’ who had been preparing to study at Nottingham Trent University.

But there had also been contact with mental health services on three occasions in 2021 and she was on antidepressants.

The teenager had been due to start one-to-one psychotherapy work with mental health services, Nottinghamshirelive reports.

Delivering her verdict, coroner Fiona Gingell said: “I take the opportunity to offer my personal and sincere condolences to her family in respect of her loss.

“I am dreadfully sad to have met you in these circumstances. I find she died by her own hand.”

Darrell Clarke’s memories of his daughter were not publicly disclosed at the inquest.

He thanked the coroner for her work, adding: “I feel my daughter’s voice was not heard when she was alive.”