A 19-year-old aspiring model hanged herself at home in Wallasey after she had fallen out with friends at a party, an inquest heard.



Jenny Grant, who had just finished her first year studying psychology and criminology at Lancaster University, had also split up with her boyfriend before she was found dead on September 13 last year by police.

She was in the process of launching a career in modelling at the time of her death and had been on a photo shoot with The Sun newspaper.

The inquest at Wallasey Town Hall in Wirral, Merseyside, heard she left a party, where she had been drinking rum, vodka and wine, after a disagreement with friends at around 1am. She then spoke to her ex-boyfriend, Kevin Walsh, on the phone when she returned home.

Mr Walsh contacted police after he became worried and police found Ms Grant hanging in the hallway, the inquest was told. She was pronounced dead at her home in Leasowe Road, Wallasey, at 4.31am.

A post-mortem examination by Dr David Agbamu on September 16 concluded she died from hanging and had 115 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of blood, just under one-and-a-half times the legal drink-drive limit of 80 micrograms. A drugs test was negative.

Christopher Johnson, coroner for Wirral, said the circumstances surrounding Ms Grant's death were "perplexing".

Speaking about her phone conversation with her ex-boyfriend, Mr Johnson said: "She appeared to be very depressed and could not be contacted subsequently. She had everything in the world to look forward to."

Mr Johnson said it "seems totally illogical" Ms Grant hanged herself after recently splitting up with her boyfriend and a "verbal disagreement with some of her girlfriends".

Recording a narrative verdict Mr Johnson said: "The deceased died as a result of suspension by her own hand but the question of intent remains unclear."

THE CHESTER STANDERD

GLAMOUR model Jenny Grant told her ex-boyfriend she was depressed and “didn’t want to be here” minutes before hanging herself

An inquest yesterday heard how the 19-year-old had become distressed and left a party in Prenton, Wirral, after arguing with friends in the early hours of September 13, last year.

Her ex-boyfriend, Kevin Walsh, became concerned after speaking with her and reported his fears to police.

Jenny was later found in her home in Wallasey with a ligature around her neck.

Her mother Lynne Grant, 47, told the ECHO: “I will never get over the tragic death of my beautiful daughter Jenny.

“It has left an empty space in the hearts of all of her family and friends.

“Our wonderful memories of her will stay with us all forever.”

Wirral’s Coroner Court heard Jenny’s death followed the breakdown of her relationship.

In a report read by coroner’s officer Arthur Flowers, he said: “On Friday, September 12 she arrived home in the late afternoon. Her brother, who had been at university, was also present.

“She left some time between 8.30pm and 9pm and went to meet a friend prior to going on to a party.

“At 3.39am on Saturday, Kevin Walsh contacted police in Wallasey to report that he had spoken with her on the telephone.

“He stated that she appeared to be very depressed.”
The call was then terminated and, despite calling her back several times and sending text messages, there was no response.

Police and paramedics who were called to her home at 4.30am found Jenny in the hallway of her home on Leasowe Road. She could not be revived.

Her brother Darren Grant identified her body.

A post mortem gave the cause of death as hanging.

Wirral coroner Christopher Johnson recorded a narrative verdict.

He said: “She had everything in the world to look forward to it seems totally illogical that she died how she did.”

A criminology and psychology student at Lancaster University, Jenny won a national newspaper competition to find a Page Three girl in 2007 and was embarking on a career in glamour modelling.

Friend Kyle Birch, 18, of Wallasey, said: “The whole of Wallasey aged between 18 and 20 was in total shock after her death.

“She was such an amazing person. She was like a ray of sunshine.”

A spokesman for Girl Management, who represented Jenny, said: “She was a girl with a lot of potential not just in her modelling, but life in general.”


THE ECHO

That's very sad.