Teenager's inquest told of a 'significant lapse of care'

Sophie Read, who had been living in supported accommodation in Brighton managed by Ownlife, was found dead on a sofa in an Airbnb flat in St Aubyns, Hove, on February 25, 2020.

She had taken a cocktail of alcohol, heroin and cocaine after spending the night with Reis Forde, 26, a convicted drug dealer.

On the afternoon of February 24, the teenager, who was on an upgraded safety plan and subject to an 11pm curfew, had told Gary Lockwood, manager at Ownlife, that she would be staying at the Brighton home of her grandfather, Peter Reeve, that evening.

Dr Karen Henderson, Assistant Coroner for Brighton and Hove, said the court had heard conflicting evidence about events leading up to the death of the teenager, who had gone missing seven times since moving into the home on January 27, 2020.

READ MORE: Teenager died after taking cocktail of alcohol, heroin and cocaine

But she accepted a telephone call was made between an Ownlife staff member and Mr Reeve at about 10.13pm on February 24 to check on the whereabouts of Sophie. Mr Reeve told them Sophie was due to come home.

Two hours later Mr Reeve confirmed to the worker at Ownlife that his granddaughter was not at his home but was staying with a friend.

“Ownlife accepted this information and did nothing about it for reasons that are unclear,” said Dr Henderson. “I accept this was a significant lapse of care and did not adhere to the safety plan that was in place for Sophie.

“Attempts should have been made to contact Sophie and further exploration was needed as to who she was staying with and where and a missing person’s report should have been filed as a matter of course.”

She added, however, that it did not make more than a minimal contribution to Sophie's death.

There were emotional scenes from the teenager’s family on the final day of the four-day hearing, held at Sussex County Cricket Ground in Hove, as the coroner delivered her summary and conclusion.

The date coincided with the second anniversary of Sophie's funeral.

“I am satisfied that it is more likely than not Sophie had access to these drugs at the rental apartment,” said Dr Henderson. “It is in the public domain that Mr Forde has been convicted of drug-related issues including the supply of drugs.”

That information concerns an unrelated case in which Forde pleaded guilty at Hove Crown Court on February 18 this year to three charges of being involved in drug dealing in Brighton.

He was sentenced to 51 months in prison after being caught with heroin, cocaine and cannabis at a flat in Montpelier Road in May 2021.

“I am satisfied that it is more likely than not Mr Forde was the source of the drugs that were found from Sophie’s toxicology results and they directly caused her death,” added Dr Henderson.

She dismissed evidence from Sinead Doyle, of Worthing, who had claimed to be in the flat with the couple on February 24 and 25.

The court heard that evidence from phone data and cell site analysis showed Forde called Ms Doyle after finding Sophie dead on the sofa at 7.30am on February 25.

“I heard evidence that Ms Doyle was present in the rental apartment while Sophie was there,” Dr Henderson said. "I do not accept that to be the case in regard to the evidence from phone data and cell site analysis and in relation to the taxi ride that Ms Doyle took after she was contacted by Mr Forde at or around 7.30am.

“I am satisfied that Ms Doyle spent the night in her own accommodation in Worthing and she was asked to attend the Airbnb rental at the request of Mr Forde as he had recognised Sophie had sadly died before he made the phone call to Ms Doyle.

“It is regrettable that Mr Forde did not take the opportunity to call 999, resulting in a time delay from Sophie being found at 7.30am to a 999 call made by Ms Doyle at 8.36am and the paramedics attendance at 8.44am.”

The court heard that Forde was arrested on February 25 for supplying Class A drugs in connection with the death.

Forde and Doyle were later arrested for perverting the course of justice on July 24. No charges were brought due to a lack of evidence.

In conclusion, Dr Henderson dismissed any notion of suicide, and said Sophie was “naive” to drugs, adding: “Whilst it is very finely balanced, I am satisfied that it is sadly and tragically more likely than not that Sophie took heroin and cocaine whilst under the influence of alcohol as a naive user with no or limited understanding of how much to take as evidenced by the significantly raised drug levels found in Sophie.”

What was slightly less clear, she said, was how the drugs came to be in the teenager's system.

“Did she take them, as the statement from her friend suggests with regard to heroin or was she given them?" she said.

"There is no evidence [Sophie and Forde] shared drugs given Mr Forde tested negative for heroin and and cocaine but was only positive for cannabinoids for which Sophie tested negative.” 

Dr Henderson said the teenager, whose father died when she was 12, had “suffered considerable life trauma and was a vulnerable young adult with complex needs”.

“It is utterly heartbreaking that Sophie died in this way when there was such hope by those caring for her that she would be able to overcome the challenges that she faced in her life,” she said. “But I do accept that she attended the [Airbnb in St Aubyns] freely and in doing so misled both her grandfather and Ownlife as she had done not infrequently in the past.”