Drug addict's mother writes book

Rachel Whitear died of a drugs overdose an inquest has concluded

The mother of a drug addict whose death remains a mystery says she is writing a book about her daughter.

A second inquest recently concluded Rachel Whitear, 21, died of a heroin overdose in Exmouth, Devon, in 2000.

It could not give a ruling on whether she gave herself the injection. Her mother, Pauline Holcroft, of Ledbury, said it would give her some closure.

She added she felt she had done all she could for Rachel to get the truth of the circumstances around her death.

'Rest in peace'

Miss Whitear was found dead on the floor of her flat with a capped syringe in her hand in May 2000.

Photographs of her body were used as part of an anti-drugs campaign.

An inquest in December 2000 recorded an open verdict after being told tests showed she did not have enough heroin in her blood to kill her.

But her family continued to ask questions, resulting in the second inquest.

Mrs Holcroft said it was time to let her daughter rest in peace.

"I really want to finish this book and get it out there, published," she said.

"I hope the book will appeal not only to parents to see how easily this could happen to their child but also to teenagers to read it, identify with Rachael and hopefully change the course of some lives and get them to think twice."