A BARROW woman was found dead at her home by her sister after taking a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs, an inquest has heard.

Jennifer Dingle, 58, was found by her sister Elsie Glaister at her home on Manchester Street on July 26, 2022, after she became worried when Ms Dingle did not attend a family meal and then failed to answer any calls.

She used her key to enter Ms Dingle's home, found her unresponsive on a sofa in her living room and 'immediately knew she was gone', according to a statement submitted to the Coroner's Court in Cockermouth.

She immediately called 999 and paramedics arrived shortly after, officially diagnosing her death at 11.46am.

Ms Dingle had suffered a long battle with mental illness and alcohol dependence, having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression in 1987, and was sectioned under the mental health act in March 2021, after a relapse in her bipolar disorder, the inquest was told.

She had been in engagement with mental health services until her death though Assistant Coroner for Cumbria Craig Smith described it as 'somewhat patchy' and 'reluctant'.

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Ms Dingle was prescribed a number of medications for her conditions and a toxicology report and postmortem concluded that the most likely cause of death was multi-drug toxicity, caused by medications used to treat anxiety, depression and psychosis.

Police found no suspicious circumstances at her home and Mr Smith concluded that although Ms Dingle had in the past articulated suicidal thoughts he said there was insufficient evidence that she intended to end her own life.

Her sister's statement described Ms Dingle, who never married or had children, as 'always anxious' and 'moody as a child' and that she 'lived for her cats'.

She said: "She didn't want to express herself or go into any line of work."

Ms Dingle had moved to London, following her sister, who said she didn't like London, and moved back to Barrow in the 1980s, where 'she had friends and family'.

Mr Smith concluded: "She struggled with mental health issues and a lack of belief in herself.

"Jennifer's passing will no doubt have had a deep and lasting impact on those who knew her, and she will be sadly missed."