Vulnerable woman felt ‘starving’ hunger - inquest

Laura Winham was found at her flat in Woking in May 2021

A woman with serious mental health issues whose decomposed remains were found years after her death wrote how she was “starving” in calendar entries, an inquest has heard.

Laura Winham, 41, who also wrote of how she dreamt of “steaks” and wished she had kept a “bag of rice”, described her fear of going to the shops for food.

Her body was found by her mother and brother at her flat in Woking in May 2021, three-and-a-half years after her family believed she died.

In a calendar entry from 15 September 2017, Ms Winham wrote, “anyway, I’m starving”.

A cause of death has not been determined by a forensic pathologist due to the state of decomposition of the remains.

The inquest at Woking Coroners’ Court has heard how Ms Winham’s Disability Living Allowance was cut off in 2016 after the system moved to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and she failed to apply for a new claim.

A letter she wrote to her local council revealed that she believed she would be subject to an “invasive medical check-up”.

The flats where Laura lived in Sheerwater were earmarked as part of a regeneration project

In October 2017, she wrote in her diary: “Whole month since my last food shop. I can’t believe I'm surviving this long.

"I don't stock up like I used to, because I don't know when I'll be leaving.”

Her diary entries revealed her concerns over going out to do food shops or going to the cash point for money.

She wrote that she did not "feel safe" following an incident at a supermarket in 2009. The last online food shop she had noted down was on 4 September, 2017.

'About £5 left'

In a letter in late September, to a recipient who was not disclosed in court, she wrote: "I'm writing to you because my mobile has given up the ghost on 7 September. It was lucky that I made my last Tesco run on 4 September."

She added that she "may be moved" and that her fridge and freezer were "practically empty".

She said she had "about £5 left".

The hearing has been told how Ms Winham’s flat, in Devonshire Avenue, was earmarked for demolition as part of a regeneration scheme.

Police forced entry to the property after a call from her family in May 2021.

Her mummified remains were found in the hallway, laid in a foetal position on top of clothing, the inquest was told.

'Arm's length'

A statutory Safeguarding Adult Review report produced after Ms Winham's death found that the diagnosis clinicians most commonly reached in regard to her longstanding mental health issues was delusional disorder.

Susan Harrison, a retired senior social service manager, who chaired the panel behind the findings, told the court she was "very disappointed" to learn Ms Winham had not been visited by an adult social care worker after a referral to Surrey County Council from police.

Ms Winham's family have previously said she had cut off all contact with them due to believing they would harm her.

The review panel "took the view that the family had done absolutely everything they could" for Laura "given that [she] was so determined to keep them at arm's length," Ms Harrison said.

The three-day inquest has finished hearing evidence. A conclusion will be reached by the coroner at a later date.

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