'Chances lost' to save drug girl

Kate Walsh was in a relationship with a 27-year-old man before she died

A teenage girl who spiralled into a fatal heroin addiction may not have died if the authorities had intervened earlier, a coroner has ruled.

Kate Walsh, 16, had overdosed twice before she was found dead in a "squalid" Swindon squat in 2004.

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner David Masters said not enough was done to convince her she should go into supported accommodation.

The court was told her death was "consistent with heroin intoxication".

Mr Masters added: "If various opportunities to take a different course had not been missed and lost the final outcome may not have been her death."

'Key improvements'

He accepted that a Serious Case Review carried out by the Swindon Area Child Protection Committee had addressed the "gap" in the town's child services.

Parents Anthony and Debbie Walsh told the inquest they wanted her put in secure accommodation amid concerns of her relationship with heroin user Alex Charlamow, 27.

She had left home to be with him in May that year, later moving into a caravan, the inquest heard.

In a statement issued after the inquest, Swindon Local Safeguarding Children Board said key improvements had been made since Kate's death, including better information sharing.

Kate's mother said: "Our wish had been to try and ensure that the circumstances of Kate's death are not repeated.

"Responsible agencies [should] have in place suitable procedures and resources to protect all children, including those who are 16 and 17 so that no other child experiences what Kate went through."