GAIA INQUEST: Dorset teen was 'anxious' when she disappeared
The Coroner's Court hearing into the 19 year old's death has begun
Dorset teenager Gaia Pope was feeling 'unsettled' and 'anxious' on the day she was last seen alive, an inquest has heard.
The 19 year old was worried about seeing the man she'd accused of raping her three years earlier, being released from prison.
The senior coroner for Dorset, Rachael Griffin, has been making her opening remarks at the inquest into Gaia's death, which began today (Tuesday 26th April).
Gaia went missing from her home in Swanage on November 7th, 2017.
Her body was found near the Swanage coastal path 11 days later, following a large search operation, including police, the coastguard, and members of the public amongst others.
The inquest has heard today (26th April) that Gaia was upset by the decision not to charge the man accused of raping her, when she was aged 16.
That man was later jailed for sexual offences committed against other people and was due to be released from prison in the autumn of 2017, around the time that Gaia went missing.
Rachael Griffin, senior coroner for Dorset, told jurors at the hearing:
"At the time of her disappearance on November 7th 2017, Gaia was anxious about his imminent release.
"It is not relevant for you in your role in this inquest to hear any detail about the precise circumstances of the alleged rape, or any detail about the police investigation into the allegation of rape, or the decision not to charge the alleged perpetrator.
"It is not for you to make any determination about the rape allegation.
"However, it is relevant for you to hear evidence about the impact of the alleged rape on Gaia, how upset Gaia was about the decision not to charge the alleged perpetrator and the impact of that on her mental health and the impact of the alleged perpetrator's imminent release on Gaia's mental health."
The jury was also told how Gaia was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2013 and continued to receive treatment from doctors in both Dorset and London for the condition.
She was also first referred to mental health services for assessment in December 2015 and 12 months later with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Details about the day Gaia went missing have also been revealed.
The court heard that on November 2nd, she reported to Dorset Police that she'd received indecent images via social media and was to make a formal statement on the day she disappeared.
The coroner said:
"Gaia was with her aunt on that day at her aunt's address on Argyle Road in Swanage as her aunt was assisting her to make arrangements to make a formal complaint.
"Gaia appeared very unsettled that day and left her aunt's address, running away from the address at around 3.40pm.
"After Gaia left her aunt's address, her aunt contacted Dorset Police at 3.42pm to record that she was having some sort of episode and that her aunt was concerned for her welfare."
She was captured on CCTV at 3.40pm running along Morrison Road.
Rachael Griffin continued:
"Gaia then attended the address of a friend's grandmother and is behaving irrationally.
"She leaves that address and the last know sighting of Gaia was on CCTV in Priest's Road at 3.59pm on November 7th."
The coroner said the inquest would last until July and would consider 'how and in what circumstances' Gaia died.
The jury will hear evidence of the care provided to her and what Dorset Police did from November 7, the day she disappeared, until her body was found.
The inquest continues tomorrow (Wednesday 27th April).