A MUM has slammed “lazy” cops who she claims failed to spot her daughter was at home before she took her own life.
Police had been called to Rhiana Jones’ house in Barry, Wales, to conduct a welfare check amid fears the mum-of-three was “suicidal”.
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The two officers got no answer at the front door so spoke on the phone with Rhiana, who claimed she was walking her dog as she needed to “clear her head”.
An inquest heard they were satisfied “110 per cent” she was not inside and therefore did not conduct a thorough search of the area, including her garden, or make house-to-house inquiries.
Rhiana told the officers she would be back in 15 minutes but when she failed to return, they left.
Within around 20 minutes of the cops going, the tragic mum had taken her own life.
A coroner ruled he could not say “any act or omission on the part of police” contributed to Rhiana’s death.
But her heartbroken family believe she would “still be alive” had they checked the back garden.
Rhiana’s mum Denise accused the officers of “lazy policing”, adding: “My whole life has changed.
“I can’t switch this off, this is my life, and I’m just broken. I have to fight to go through the day.”
Pontypridd Coroner’s Court was told Rhiana had a history of mental health problems and was diagnoses with ADHD as a child.
After the birth of her third child in May 2022, she developed postnatal depression and also suffered with anxiety.
The inquest was told she battled with alcohol consumption, had a gambling addiction and had previously taken an overdose.
On August 6 last year, Rhiana’s son was removed by his dad after she was found “intoxicated” in bed.
Tragic end
Her ex’s mother later called South Wales Police to conduct the welfare check after learning Rhiana had taken an overdose.
The officers said they heard “loud music” coming from inside her home as they approached front door ad claimed they knocked “quite hard” several times.
They could see through frosted glass on the door that there was a dog inside, and decided to ring Rhiana after getting no answer.
One told the inquest: “Rhianna told me she was out with her dog and she needed to clear her head.”
When asked if he had challenged the mum given there was a dog in the house, he said he did not as “she could’ve had more than one dog”.
The officer also claimed he could not hear music down the phone and instead heard “bird noises and wind” – suggesting she was outside.
But rather than go round to the garden, the cops concluded there was “no immediate cause for concern in the way she was speaking” as Rhiana “didn’t appear to be crying on the phone”.
When the mum failed to return home, the officers attempted to call her one last time but got no response and left the scene.
Rhiana was later found dead with cocaine, alcohol and medication in her blood system.
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
A post mortem found she had “used or had administered a number of drugs prior to death” but not at a deadly level.
Assistant coroner Gavin Knox recorded a conclusion of suicide.
He said “on the balance of probabilities” Rhiana had never left her home and was likely to have been in the garden when the police came.
The coroner added: “On the balance of probabilities, I find Ms Jones did intend to take her own life.
“I do accept her taking her own life was to some degree impulsive…I accept she might not have thought through all the consequences for her family, particularly her children.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
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