A newly qualified teacher died after being left “traumatised” by an incident where she was stripped naked in a police cell, an inquest has heard.
Jorja Watt, 27, was found unresponsive at a friend’s home on September 1, just months after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker during a night out.
The Lancashire teacher had been looking forward to starting her dream job in Costa Rica before the tragedy.
Watt, who had been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, had studied for six years to pursue her teaching career.
The Lancashire teacher had been looking forward to starting her dream job in Costa Rica before the tragedy
Preston Coroner’s Court heard how Watt was “stripped and left naked in a cell” following her arrest.
Her mother Maria told the court that her daughter had been severely traumatised by the incident and feared it would destroy her teaching career.
The experience caused a dramatic decline in Watt’s mental health, leading her to visit “drug dens” where she would self-medicate with prescription medication.
Maria described her daughter as “quietly spoken, intelligent and kind” with a “free spirit”.
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Watt, who had been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, had studied for six years to pursue her teaching career
Lancashire Police has been approached for comment regarding the cell incident.
Before visiting her friend Charlie’s home, Watt had gone to collect a bag from another friend known as “Tall Gill”.
One of Watt’s friends later told police that during this visit, she had spotted “a bottle of brown liquid” and declared “I’m taking that”.
Charlie’s mother Voirrey Wilde described the moment she discovered Watt. “At around one o’clock I woke up to Charlie shouting ‘Jorja!’ repeatedly,” she told the court.
Preston Coroner’s Court heard how Watt was ‘stripped and left naked in a cell’ following her arrest.
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“I knew something was wrong. I found her slumped on the sofa. Her lips were blue and she was unresponsive.”
A post-mortem examination revealed Watt had several prescription medications in her system at the time of her death, including methadone, a heroin substitute.
The court heard she had also been taking painkillers for a leg wound that had previously required hospital treatment.
Her cause of death was recorded as multi-medication toxicity, with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder listed as a contributory factor.
Area Coroner Kate Bisset, recording a verdict of misadventure, said: “I think it is right to record this is not someone who is taking drugs for a high and chasing a thrill. Her mental health was a real battle for her and taking medication was an attempt to win that battle.”
