London family still heartbroken long after beautiful daughter took own life

A West London family of a 13-year-old beautiful girl, Lacey Jane Clark, who took her own life has remained distraught two years after the sad event.

Lacey, from Uxbridge, died on November 16 2021 after four months in a mental health ward at a South London hospital.

MyLondon reports that a jury at the West London Coroner’s Court was given her medical cause of death as ‘fatal pressure to the neck’ on Monday, June 12, 2023.

According to the news medium, Lacey’s psychiatrist gave evidence, detailing her four-month stay at the Lavender Walk Adolescent Mental Health Unit in South Kensington, run by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Daramola recalled how she was transferred there under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act after a compulsory A&E admission from Hillingdon Hospital on July 12 2021, but became a long-term patient after fears she might hurt herself if returned home.

The 12-bed unit is for patients with ‘significant mental health difficulties’, but is designed to give young patients ‘a certain level of access’ to things that are available in the real world – like metal cutlery and blades.

The court heard how Lacey was medicated to treat anxiety associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder but never tried to overdose during her stay.

More than once she left the ward with other patients, one time found by police ‘shaking and very anxious’ in a nearby charity shop. The animal-loving teen later promised if she was given leave to visit a horse with her dad, then would not abscond.

“When the therapy dogs visited the unit those were the best times for Lacey,” Dr Daramola added.

He explained measures taken to stop patients from absconding, and other disruptive behaviour, now include only giving access to mobile phones during daytime and non-school hours.

He said: “Since then we have had no major episodes of group absconding.”

Commenting on the decision to allow her home prior to her death, he recalled how she had actively engaged in group therapy and appeared ‘ready’. “She was telling everybody about seeing her friends at school,” he said.

“We did not see any indication for us to prevent that leave going ahead.”

Lacey’s parents Lisa and Bradley Clark appeared in court as Coroner Lydia Brown read their emotional statement onto the record.

“The loss of our daughter is still extremely painful, and having to put together an account of engagement with Lavender Walk is difficult,” they said.

They then detailed a number of observations about her time in hospital prior to her death. They described how alleged ‘security deficiencies’ meant their daughter was able to get out and ‘wander the streets’.

“We drove to the unit to get clarification and search the streets and train stations to try and find Lacey,” they recounted.

The story continues on MyLondon.