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BGT dancer Kerri-Anne Donaldson died by suicide after arrest, coroner rules
Summary
A coroner found that Britain's Got Talent dancer Kerri-Anne Donaldson died by suicide three days after she was arrested on suspicion of child sexual offending; the inquest criticised gaps in the later mental health assessment.
Content
A coroner has concluded that Kerri-Anne Donaldson, a dancer who appeared on Britain's Got Talent, died by suicide three days after an arrest on suspicion of child sexual offending. She was found dead at her home on 7 June 2023 and the inquest at Winchester examined events in the days before her death. Hospital staff carried out mental health assessments after she was found following an overdose and she was later discharged into the care of a home treatment team. The coroner criticised aspects of the later Mental Health Act assessment for not considering earlier nursing notes and for applying assumptions that downplayed risk.
Key points:
- Ms Donaldson was arrested on 4 June 2023 on suspicion of child sexual offending and denied the allegation.
- She was found after taking an overdose, admitted to hospital, assessed, and discharged into home treatment on 6 June.
- A psychiatric liaison nurse assessed her on 5 June as being at high and imminent risk of suicide.
- Coroner Jason Pegg recorded a conclusion of suicide and said the Mental Health Act assessment was hindered because earlier nursing notes were not read and incorrect assumptions were applied.
Summary:
The coroner concluded that Ms Donaldson died by suicide and highlighted failings in how information from an earlier nursing assessment was not considered during a later Mental Health Act assessment, which may have downplayed her risk. Undetermined at this time.
