Mum-of-two lay dead in restaurant toilet for two days before ‘staff finally peeked through keyhole and saw body'

The Sun

30-07-2025

A MUM-of-two lay dead in a restaurant toilet for two days before staff finally looked through a keyhole and saw her body, an inquest heard.
Sabrina Lyttle, 47, was discovered lifeless inside a disabled cubicle at the Gurkha Hotel Pub and Restaurant in Blackpool.
4
4
An inquest heard she likely died shortly after entering the toilet on the evening of November 28.
Police forced their way in but found no evidence Sabrina had been attacked or that someone else was involved.
She had recently been released from an eight-week prison sentence for theft and may have gone inside to keep warm, it was said.
Toxicology results showed cocaine, Valium, methadone and a small amount of alcohol in her system.
Consultant forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said Sabrina showed no signs of serious illness.
But he did warn her reduced drug tolerance following prison could have contributed to her death.
Dr Shepherd added: "A period in prison - even one as short as this - and the non use of a drug like cocaine can see tolerance levels decrease extremely rapidly."
The court was told a crack pipe was found on the toilet floor beside Sabrina along with a magazine and some cherry Bakewell tarts.
Det Insp Liam Davy, who carried out the initial enquires into the death, said: "My hypothesis at the time was she possibly entered the toilet to keep warm and that her death was caused by the drugs or because of a medical episode.
"There was no evidence of outside involvement."
The restaurant said at the time of Sabrina's death all the toilets were cleaned regularly but the disabled facility was only cleaned after it had been used.
However, no one asked to use it until the day the mum-of-two's body was found.
The inquest heard there were several agencies dealing with vulnerable people like Sabrina - Blackpool Horizon, Lancashire Women and Changing Futures - who all tried to help her.
She was met at the prison gates upon her released on November 27 and accommodation had been arranged for her in a hotel.
Coroner Margaret Taylor described Sabrina as "a popular and likeable woman despite her problems".
She recorded a verdict of death by mixed drug toxicity.
Ms Taylor told Sabrina's family: "If we apply common sense it would seem she died shortly after going into the toilet because there is no evidence she tried to come out.
"I understand your concerns but there is a very high possibility that nothing could have been done to save her even if she was found earlier."
4
4