Woman who went to railway track to kill herself arrested and charged with trespassing

A suicidal woman in her 20s went to a railway line with a friend, both intending to kill themselves. But Leicestershire Police were called and arrested them, later charging them with trespassing near the busy Midland Mainline, which links Leicester with London.

The incident happened in Leicester at about 10pm on Saturday, June 8. The woman, who has severe mental health problems and who LeicestershireLive is not naming, appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to the charge.

Prosecutor Sally Bedford told the court: "The police were called and it was reported that there were two females on the railway line near Euston Street Police Station. It's a fairly busy stretch of the rail network, even in the evening.

READ MORE: Man abuses Muslim Pc after smashing food off shelves in Heron Foods supermarket

"They happened upon the defendant and her friend and both indicated they wished to harm themselves and so that was why they had gone onto the line."

Kate Nield, representing the young woman, said her client had not realised it was a railway line and had not been intending to kill herself on the track. She said: "She is a young lady who was trying to find somewhere to end her life. Serious attempts have been made in recent days to end her life, and in the past month - they have been becoming a lot more serious.

"She and her friend went through an open gate and found themselves on the railway line. She wanted to find somewhere quiet where she could kill herself.

"She went there not aware it was a railway track. She was arrested for wasting police time.

"She is a young lady who has significant difficulties and who has been crying out for help for a long period of time. She's found herself in a very low state."

Ms Nield asked for the magistrates to give her client an absolute discharge, which they agreed to. The chairman of the bench, Gareth Roberts, told the young woman: "We're going to take this down as far as we can. Although you are guilty of the offence, we don't think you need to be punished, based on the circumstances that have been explained to us."

No mention was made in court of any action taken against the young woman's friend.