Girlfriend took own life at spot where lover was killed by train

Becky Tait, aged 20, was left 'traumatised' by the death of her partner Phil James, who was hit by a train near Stone railway station.

Struggling to cope with the loss of her boyfriend, Miss Tait then took her own life on the same train track at the Church Hill crossing in Stone in November last year.

A hearing at Cannock Coroner's Court yesterday was told about her history of suicide attempts and how she had been referred to mental health services.

She had spent time at St George's Hospital in Stafford in October after the death of Phil James in the September.

She told staff at the hospital run by South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust about what had happened to her partner, but was discharged after no longer expressing suicidal thoughts.

Friends raised concerns about the 20-year-old in the days before she killed herself.

But mental health services had remained in communication with her and she was in contact with specialists in the days before her death.

She said she had no plans to commit suicide.

The inquest was told Becky was seen leaning on the barriers and appeared to be 'quite anxious' on November 9 last year.

She then squeezed through barriers onto the tracks at Church Hill level crossing, close to Redhill Road and in front of the train which was doing 35mph.

A suitcase and her passport were found nearby.

British Transport Police said there were nothing suspicious in connection with the death of Becky, of Waterbeck Grove, Trentham, at just after 6.15pm.

She suffered multiple injuries. There were no traces of alcohol or drugs in her system.

When asked about her discharge from hospital, Dr Jurai Daramgkamas, said it can be frightening for younger people on a ward as it takes them away from a normal routine.

As she was not expressing suicidal thoughts she was discharged.

She said: "The aim of the ward admission was to keep her safe until the suicide thoughts abated.

"Sometimes actually being on a ward, people feel uncomfortable in that environment. I have come across young people who find it quite frightening."

Deputy assistant coroner for Staffordshire Margaret Jones said there had been previous suicidal attempts and she had been 'traumatised' by the death of her boyfriend.

She recorded a verdict that care worker killed herself.

Mr James was struck by a train near Stone Station at around 8.30pm on September 7.

He was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire where he died two days later.

She said: "Becky was a very young lady, she was clearly traumatised by the death of her boyfriend.

"She came into contact with the mental health trust. She seemed to make some progress and was discharged.

"She was seen to squeeze through the barrier and stop in the middle of the rail track and into the path of an on-coming train."

A statement issued by family members of Becky after the hearing said: "We would like to thank everyone for their ongoing kindness and support through this very difficult time and would like to continue to be left alone to grieve privately."

A fundraising event will be held on Saturday at 5.30pm at Becky's former workplace, New Park House Care Home, Trentham, to raise money for a bench and memorial garden. A statement from a young witness, who was not named at the court, said: "In my mind I was thinking 'what is she doing the train is about to come.' "I thought she was in a rush.

"She just stepped in the middle of the train lines and the train just hit her."

Pc Melanie Dodd, from British Transport Police, said it appeared a deliberate act.

She added the train driver had sounded the horn and tried to brake.

She said she was aware her boyfriend had done something similar eight weeks previously.

Becky had been on a night out in Birmingham the night before her death and was due to meet the health team on November 9.