Sudden death of 'bubbly and funny' Exeter girl, 17

Questions remain unanswered following her death

A police investigation into the drug-related death of a 17-year-old Exeter girl has concluded there are no suspicious circumstances, despite concerns being raised by her family. Hannah Sclater, a former St Luke's School and Exeter College student, is said to have been found lifeless in bed next to her boyfriend on June 10, 2020.

Yesterday, October 15, an inquest into her death was held at Exeter Coroner's Court. It was heard that Hannah, who was born in Exeter, normally lived with her mum in Beacon Heath but during the coronavirus lockdown she had been living with her boyfriend Callum Walton in a flat in St Thomas.

The day before her death she was said to have been 'absolutely fine' by those who saw and spoke to her. The inquest heard Callum told paramedics that when he woke on the morning of June 10, at 11.20am, he assumed Hannah was still asleep next to him.

He said he and his dad, who stayed the previous night, went to the shops and on their return at around 12.30pm, he could not wake Hannah and realised she was not breathing.

An ambulance was called but she could not be revived. At the flat, police questioned both Callum and his dad who changed his name by deed poll to Jammy Dodger and was also known as Ashley Walton and Ashley Andrews.

They were said to have refused to sign the statements and left the scene. Earlier this year, Jammy was found dead at his flat in Paignton on May 5. A cause of death has not been established with an inquest to be held at a later date.

Police stated that following a search of Callum's flat after Hannah's death, they found what appeared to be a suicide letter to her family entitled 'sorry for leaving'. However, her parents later confirmed they did not recognise the handwriting as hers.

A notebook containing feelings and suicide references was also located, but it was said to have been 'impossible' to date when the notes had been written.

Investigating officer DC Matthew Burnell told how the father and son had given varying accounts to police of when they last saw Hannah alive on the evening of June 9. He said the 'closest' was when Jammy said that when they woke up on June 10, they estimated the chances of Hannah being dead as 70/30.

In one police interview, the inquest heard he told police he believed Callum may have written the end of life note. Police concluded had an ambulance been called before Jammy and Callum went to the shops, the outcome would have been the same as it was believed Hannah had been dead for 'some hours at least'.

The medical cause of death was the combined toxic effects of prescription medication she was not prescribed. Police were unable to confirm how Hannah obtained the drugs and there was said to be insufficient evidence for a criminal investigation to be launched.

DC Burnell said: "It is quite clear that Hannah was emotionally very fragile and had been for some time."

From the evidence gathered, including a mobile phone, he said: "There is no evidence to suggest that Hannah did not consume these [the substances she took] voluntarily. In fact, the evidence is it is more likely that she would consume drugs of this ilk.

"While there is evidence of previous suicide thoughts and tendencies, there is no objective evidence that she intended to end her life at the time when she died."

In a statement, her mum Susan, who raised Hannah as a single parent after separating from her dad, described her as having been a 'bubbly, cheeky, funny' and generally happy child. She enrolled on a childcare course at Exeter College but left in January 2020 for reasons including poor attendance and her mental health.

Her medical records confirmed Hannah was continuing to receive counselling from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services up until her death and her last email contact with them was said to have had a 'more positive tone'.

Three weeks before her death, she told her mum she was planning to return to 'make something of her life' and told another family member she wanted to become a hairdresser.

In her early teens, Hannah was said to have received counselling due to emotional stress, and also received support at college. She was said to have particularly struggled after the death of her brother's wife in December 2018 who she was close to.

Susan said she was aware Hannah smoked cannabis and drank 'a bit' of alcohol but was not aware of having taken any other drugs, including prescription medication.

She recalled: "She struggled taking tablets of any sort. She would struggle to swallow them and would often throw them up 15 minutes later."

Susan said she had been aware Hannah was staying with 'a friend' during lockdown who she had never met, and only became aware it was her boyfriend after her death. She added she was never given cause for concern over her living arrangements and she had no reason to believe she was taking drugs.

The day before her death she recalled they had been planning to go shopping and for lunch. She said: "She said she missed me and loved me and I told her the same. That was the last time I spoke to her."

Hannah's nan, Margaret Ingham, recalled how they talked frequently and that Hannah would open up to her but never shared any suicidal thoughts and said she had a boyfriend who she met in September 2019.

She said: "She was happy and thought the world of him and referred to him as treating her right." She added: "We also spoke about drugs and she said something like, 'nan, I'm not that stupid."

The last time she spoke to her was the day before she died, and she said she seemed in 'good spirits' and had no concerns.

Joy Belcher, Callum's mum, told in a statement how her son moved out when he was 16 and was 23 years old when Hannah died. She said they had a 'very close relationship', and Hannah was a 'stabilising influence' on him.

She added she also had a close bond with Hannah and described her as being a 'lovely girl' who was 'warm and friendly', but also seemed a 'bit lost' and looked for reassurance and guidance.

She said she last saw Hannah and Callum the day before her death. She recalled Callum had been 'pretty drunk' when she dropped them home at 6.30pm, but Hannah seemed 'absolutely fine'.

The inquest heard Hannah's relationship with her dad Garry Sclater was 'difficult'. In a statement, he said their contact was 'sporadic' and that he was concerned about her mental health, but did not think she would end her life.

He said: "Although we were not necessarily close, she was my daughter and I love her."

Recording a conclusion of drug-related death and offering her condolences to the family, Alison Longhorn, area coroner for Devon, said: "There is no evidence to suggest she did not consume the drugs of her own volition and there is evidence she used drugs and alcohol to excess."