A young mother committed suicide by taking an overdose of tablets after she was raped at a Chester house, an inquest heard today (Wednesday, June 17).
Ceri Linden, 20, got into a car driven by Masood Mansouri, of Shannon Close in Saltney, mistaking it for a taxi. Mansouri took the ‘vulnerable’ young mother of an 18-month-old daughter back to his home and raped and sexually assaulted her.
The victim managed to escape from Mansouri’s house but a few days later, Ceri, of Orchard Grove in Mochdre, took her own life.
After taking the tablets, Ceri told her mother she loved her and ‘was going’, shortly before she slipped into unconsciousness, the Llandudno hearing was told.
Nicola Jones, deputy coroner for North Wales, concluded she had taken her own life.
Ms Jones, sitting at Llandudno Town Hall, heard that Ceri’s mum Eleri had returned from a trip out to find her daughter at their home at 1.30pm on August 17 last year.
Her mum rang 999, but paramedics took 45 minutes to reach the address when the statutory guideline is eight minutes.
Her unconscious daughter was taken to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, where she died.
Mrs Linden said there could have been a ‘different outcome’ if the ambulance had arrived earlier.
But the deputy coroner said that was ‘speculation’ which she couldn’t consider.
On April 30 this year, a jury at Chester Crown Court found Masood Mansouri guilty of the rape, sexual assault and kidnap of Ceri Linden. He has been sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison.
Brendan Lloyd, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s medical director, said: “We would like to extend our thoughts and deepest sympathies to Miss Linden’s family at this very difficult time.
“Following her death, we received a concern about our response on that day from a representative of the family, which was fully investigated, and the findings from which shared with her family.
“If her family feel they have more questions, we would be more than happy – when they feel comfortable and ready – to meet with them and answer their questions as best we can.
“We are truly sorry for the family’s loss of Miss Linden and would like to reiterate our sincere condolences.”
