Chesterfield Coroners Court inquest hears state contributed in death of exploited teenager

Rhianan Rudd was found dead in a children's home aged 16 last year

Author: Trevor ThomasPublished 23rd May 2023

The UK state "contributed" to the death of a teenager who took her own life after being groomed by a far-right extremist and later arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences, an inquest has heard.

Rhianan Rudd was just 16 when she was found dead in a children's home in May last year, around 18 months after she was detained for downloading a bomb-making manual online and accused of plotting a terrorist attack.

Rhianan, who had autism, had been groomed and exploited by an American extremist, and evidence of this led to the charges being dropped five months before her death.

At the pre-inquest review hearing Jesse Nicholls, representing Rhianan's family, said if she would've been identified earlier and been signposted to appropriate support, her death could have been avoided.

Another hearing will take place on the 19th September.

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