Heartbreaking words penned by Christie Harnett's devastated mum as mental health trust fined

A mum has paid tribute to her "sunshine" Christie Harnett after the teen took her own life at a mental health hospital.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) was fined £200,000 on Friday after admitting failures in the care of two patients. Teenager Christine Harnett, and another patient, who cannot be named for legal reasons, passed away while under the care of the trust.

At a sentencing hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court, Christie's mother Charlotte Harnett said the teenager had a "bright beaming smile" and described her as her "sunshine". Christie, 17, died after being found unconscious in a bathroom at the Newberry Centre at West Lane Hospital, Middlesbrough, in June 2019.

READ MORE: 'Justice has not been served': Emily Moore's dad speaks out after TEWV found not guilty of failings READ MORE: Police patrols launched as officers search for lone female dog walker after incident in woods

In a victim impact statement Mrs Harnett said the family has been "torn apart" by Christie's death. She wrote: "Having to write this statement is so hard. How can I possibly put into words the impact of my daughter Christie dying has had upon me and all the family. I need people to understand that I didn't just lose my daughter that day but I lost my whole family. We are no longer the same people we were before Christie's death.

"Everyone is suffering everyday. Everyone is in therapy of some sort and our lives are forever torn apart. Christie really was the sunshine in our lives, that bright beaming smile that would light up any room, her singing every day and dragging us all out for various day trips and shopping, are now all gone forever.

"One of my biggest fears in life was losing a child, that fear came true. Everywhere we go we have memories with Christie and it hurts like hell.

"She's spoken about everyday and always will be. She was and is a huge part of our lives. Her death was a massive trauma for me. I can't remember her dying, I can't remember her funeral it's all a blur. I'm left trying to get through each day as best as I can, learning to navigate life without her."

Christie had been detained under the Mental Health Act on 11 occasions from the age of 15. She fatally harmed herself in a communal bathroom on June 23, 2019, and was found by a healthcare assistant after a service user saw water running under the bathroom door. An investigation revealed a number of failings in her care, including a failure to adequately identify the high risk of self harm and set out appropriate ways this was to be managed by staff, Teesside Magistrates' Court heard.

Prosecutor Jason Pitter KC said the trust failed to respond to previous ligature incidents involving Christie in March and May, and put in place appropriate measures. Risk assessments and care plans failed to prevent Christie using the bathrooms without any additional risk control, such as removal of items she could use to attempt to tie a ligature, Mr Pitter said.

The trust was fined £200,000, ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge and £15,000 costs.

Following the sentencing, Brent Kilmurray, chief executive at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust said: “As we made clear in court today, we are deeply sorry for the events that led to these tragedies.

“We didn't provide the care these two people deserved, and the guilty pleas reflect that. Of course, that is no consolation to Christie’s family and friends, and the loved ones of the other patient, for which I offer our heartfelt apologies.

“The CQC has acknowledged in our latest inspection that improvements have since been made, however now is not the time for this. Today is about us being accountable, and our thoughts are with the families at this incredibly difficult time.”

For daily news from Teesside's courts direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free court newsletter