Brighton: Rachel Garrett inquest hears from expert witness

The independent expert said that Rachel Garrett, 22, could have been protected on the day she fell from cliffs by Brighton Marina in July 2020.

Dr Laurence Mylor-Wallis told the inquest into her death that in his opinion there should have been a detailed plan in place to protect Rachel, adding that this could have either been in hospital or in the community.

Rachel Garrett (Image: Family handout)

Giving evidence to the hearing, Dr Mylor-Wallis said: “One of the facts that clinicians needed to weigh up was the parents' views and they were extremely worried. Their views absolutely needed to be taken into account in whether she needed to be detained or not.

“On July 7 [when Rachel was arrested after being found at the top of cliffs] there had been a significant increase in very risky behaviours and action needed to be taken.

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“That could have been a hospital admission and this would have been a reasonable decision, but they could increase what they are doing in the community.”

Rachel, of Brunswick Square, Hove, a student at Bath Spa University described as the “joyful, beating heart” of her family, received a range of treatment prior to her death on July 29, 2020.

She was also a drummer for Brighton band Grasshopper and played at a number of festivals including the Isle of Wight festival and Kendal Calling.

Dr Mylor-Wallis identified two missed opportunities to protect Rachel prior to her death – after she was arrested and on the day that she died.

He said using the term “detainable” in assessing Rachel “was not helpful”, adding: “To say someone ‘isn’t detainable’ isn’t a matter of fact. It is, in my opinion, the decision of if someone meets the criteria and the criteria is very broad.”

Rachel Garrett (Image: Family handout)

Dr Mylor-Wallis said the decisions made by clinicians were difficult.

The inquest previously heard that Rachel had attempted to commit suicide five days in the four weeks prior to her death.

On the day before her death, Rachel was taken from the cliffs in Brighton to A&E but was left in the department alone after a police sergeant said he was “willing to take the risk” to stand down officers and not use powers to detain her.

Another police sergeant later suggested that it would be unlawful for the force to have used their powers to detain Rachel if she left hospital.

A Sussex Police spokesman previously said the force was fully supporting the coronial process.

The inquest, being held at Leonardo Hotel in Stroudley Road, Brighton, is being presided over by senior coroner Penelope Schofield and is scheduled to conclude on Friday.

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