University student hangs herself

A university student who worked as a lap dancer during summer holidays to pay her fees hanged herself in the seaside hotel she was staying in - six years after her mother killed herself in the same manner.

Carly Potts, 26, was working in a gentleman's club in Blackpool and staying in a hotel in the party resort when her body was found.

She had been studying at the nearby University of Central Lancashire in Preston but fell into the 'wrong crowd' and began taking cocaine.

In the early hours of the morning on July 19, the day of her death, she texted a friend saying she would have 'a broken nose in the morning' following a bust-up with an unknown man.

In one message she said: "Just come back to the hotel alone.

"Scared to go out partying with the guys and girls, might be going para."

Her body was later discovered in her locked room at the Plaza Beach hotel at around 1.30pm when the manager let himself after knocking at the door.


The inquest was told Miss Potts, of Preston, Lancashire, had been grieving for her mother who hanged herself in 2009 and had struggled to cope with the tragedy - referencing the death in various texts to friends.

She had been dancing at the Eden lapdancing club while waiting to resume the third year of her social work course following the summer holidays.

But after dancing on the Friday and Saturday nights, she went out partying with friends.

On returning to the Plaza Beach alone in the early hours of Sunday July 19, her texts to fellow dancers at the club became more concerning.

At 6.43am she sent a text message to dancer Mischa Campbell indicating an intention to take her own life and concerned friends reported her missing to police and rushed to find her.

Miss Campbell said in a statement: "Up until that time she always seemed okay but she would speak about her mum.

''We arranged to stay at the hotel together but on Saturday I decided to work in Southport.

"She didn't want to come so we separated at 5pm.

"I left her blowdrying her hair and doing her make-up in Eden.

"I suspected she would have been drinking and possibly using cocaine as I knew it was something she may do.''


Giving evidence Carly's father Ian Farrow, of Kent, said Miss Potts had moved with her mother to Preston to be closer to family following their divorce.

The father-of-four said: "Carly was about 19 when her mother hanged herself.

"She was living with her mum and she found her body.

"When what happened to her mum happened I more or less expected a phone call that one of my girls would have taken their life.

"The last person I expected was Carly.

"I would have been there for her but she kept things to herself.

"When I knew she was a dancer I thought cocaine was part of the territory but I didn't have any concerns that she was into drugs."

In a statement, her friend Sarah Harrison, who also worked at the Eden club, said "I took 'feeling para' to mean she had drugs and was feeling paranoid.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, coroner Derek Baker said: "Carly had sent quite moving texts indicating that she was considering self-harming.

"There are further texts where the gist is that Carly is suffering and in some despair at this point.

"In the days leading up to the tragedy I don't think there were any warning signs or expressions of intent because I am sure friends or members of her family would have taken action.

"She texted her friends and her intentions were clear.

"They do indicate an intention to self-harm

"I don't think it was a cry for help.

"Her texts suggest a finality and a settled decision.

"The alcohol and drugs would simply deepen the depression or despair she was feeling at that time in the early hours of Sunday morning and reinforced her decision."

After the hearing, her grandmother said: "She was a very caring person.

"We were very proud of her."