Cliff plunge scientist left note

A high-achieving scientist who studied in East Anglia jumped 200ft (60m) to her death from cliffs at a beauty spot, an inquest has heard.

Sally Banham was found in the sea at Chapman's Pool on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset on 5 July this year.

A post-mortem examination showed she died of multiple injuries including a fractured skull and spine.

Coroner Sheriff Payne at Bournemouth recorded a suicide verdict as a note made it clear she took her own life.

Psychiatric treatment

The 39-year-old, who studied at Cambridge University and the University of East Anglia, felt guilt over the death of her father from cancer in April 1999, the inquest heard.

She became unable to cope after her mother, who had repeatedly tried to kill herself, was later diagnosed with dementia, Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset Coroner's Court heard.

Her relationship broke down and she moved in to her mother's house in Romsey, Hampshire, to take up a new job in Cadnam.

Miss Banham, who grew up in Winchester, became depressed and tried to kill herself after drinking alcohol.

She was released from a psychiatric hospital for the second time on 5 June and went missing on 28 June.

Police found her car parked at Durlston Head before finding her body in the sea.

Her consultant psychiatrist Jane Ferguson told the inquest in Bournemouth she was a "highly intelligent" and a "driven" high achiever who became highly anxious and suffered psychotic spells.

"Her personality traits which had helped her achieve so greatly academically worked against her," she said.