A WOMAN who died after she was found lying on the floor of a cell at Flockton’s New Hall prison with a ligature around her neck was a “prolific self-harmer,” an inquest heard.
Petra Blanksby, 19, was discovered in her cell at New Hall on November 19, 2003 with a ligature made from strips of material around her neck.
She was taken to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield but the decision was taken to switch off her life-support machine and she died on November 24.
The inquest was told she was remanded to New Hall Prison from Derby Crown Court charged with arson following a fire at her council home.
A jury at Wakefield Coroner’s Court was told Miss Blanksby, from Glossop, Derbyshire, came from a troubled background.
She alleged she had been abused as a child and had gone into care before the age of 10.
The mother-of-one found it “challenging” raising her young son and was concerned for his future, the jury was told.
Her relationship with her twin sister could be difficult at times and an attempt to become reconciled with her mother had also failed.
The court was told she had harmed herself on numerous occasions, including self-inflicted stabbings, overdoses, setting fire to her hair and slashing her wrists.
She was later diagnosed as suffering from a borderline personality disorder and had periods where she was in and out of hospital.
On one occasion she swallowed eight razor blades, the jury was told.
In December 2002, Lorraine Hicks from Derbyshire County Council was appointed as her after-care worker.
Over a seven month period she helped Miss Blanksby find accommodation, access benefits and provide emotional and practical support.
Coroner David Hinchliff put it to her that Miss Blanksby was a “prolific self-harmer”.
“That is not unfair is it?” the coroner asked her.
“No,” she replied.
Later she added: “She just said many times she just didn’t want to live.”
The inquest is expected to last two weeks.
