Lampard Inquiry: Mum was threatened with arrest moments after son died and was told his 'body was a crime scene'

A woman whose son died at a mental health facility in Essex claims she was threatened with being arrested and told her son was a 'crime scene' after he was found unresponsive. Melanie Leahy's son Matthew died whilst on a mental health ward in Essex and she has been one of the leading figures calling for the Lampard Inquiry. Matthew was tragically found unresponsive in his room eight days after being detained under the Mental Health Act at the Linden Centre in Broomfield.

The health ombudsman would later uncover 19 instances of serious failings, with the Essex Partnership University NHS Trust (EPUT) later admitting care provided by a former trust "fell below acceptable standards". His death is one of thousands being examined by Baroness Kate Lampard between 2000 and 2023. In a commemorative statement on Tuesday (September 17) Ms Leahy described her son as having a "beautiful soul" as well as being "generous and kind".

READ MORE: The pretty Essex street with fancy homes among the best to live on in the UK ALSO READ: Brentwood murder investigation update as man appears in court in connection with death of man Melanie, from Maldon, has been calling for a statutory inquiry since her son died and told the Inquiry of her experience in the hours after being told of her son's death. She described the place where he died as "hell on earth". She told the Inquiry she received a "lack of compassion or empathy" from medical staff and at one stage was threatened with arrest by a police offi.