Teenage couple died after arrests over abuse images

Two teenagers were found dead in Dorset in January 2022 after they were arrested on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse images; an inquest has opened to examine the circumstances, including police decisions to release them on bail.

An inquest has opened into the deaths of two teenagers who were found in Dorset in January 2022 after they were arrested on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse images. Authorities say the pair were released on police bail after the arrests and later went missing; their deaths were subsequently discovered. The case also involved the couple's baby being taken into local authority care and the coroner has said risk assessments linked to the arrests are relevant to the hearing. Key facts: - Both were arrested by police on suspicion of possessing an indecent image of a child, with initial and subsequent arrests recorded in November 2021 and January 2022. - The coroner said neither the teenagers nor their child were the subject of the alleged image and no criminal charges had been brought at that time. - The pair were released on police bail, later reported missing, and were found dead in January 2022 in Dorset. - A four-week inquest has opened at Bournemouth Town Hall to examine the circumstances, including decisions around bail and related risk assessments. Summary: The inquest is examining how police and children's services handled the case, including the decision to grant bail. The hearing is scheduled to run for four weeks and further outcomes are undetermined at this time.