Lousia Ovington independent investigation report ... - NHS North East

CHAPTER 1 - NARRATIVE OF KEY DATES AND EVENTS
16
25. On 14 February 1998 after an incident in a club, Louisa Ovington was charged
with two counts of assault and indecent assault (on two separate victims). Two days
later she was charged with a further assault and with an attempt to pervert the course
of justice after attempting to intimidate one of the witnesses. Sedgefield Magistrates’
Court remanded her on bail. 14
26. Certainly by April 1998 (and possibly before that) Louisa Ovington was taking
street drugs again. There were reports that she was spending between £400 and
£500 per day on drugs, injecting heroin and snorting cocaine. She funded her
habit through her Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority award of £46,000 and
apparently used about £30,000 of this money in a year mainly on drugs, clothes and a
car.
27. On 27 April 1998 Louisa Ovington was admitted to Ward 8 at Hartlepool General
Hospital 15 from casualty after having had two blackouts following use of cocaine and
cannabis. She was offered referral to Drug and Alcohol Services, but she declined.
28. On 18 May 1998 Louisa Ovington stole two gold necklaces from a jewellers’ shop
for which she was prosecuted. 16
29. On 19 May 1998 she was again seen by the Hartlepool General Hospital casualty
staff after she had possibly taken an overdose of cocaine and later in the day there
was an incident involving the police at a post office where she was demanding cash
from her giro before it was due.
COMMENT
During this period Louisa Ovington first became significantly involved with mental
health services and appropriate attempts, including a lengthy inpatient admission,
were made to diagnose and treat her mental disorder. Formal mental illnesses such
as schizophrenia, drug induced psychoses and personality disorders, were all rightly
considered, but it appears that most attention was paid to the issue of whether she
suffered from schizophrenia. She was treated appropriately for this illness but was
not referred to addiction services and the issues relating to her early trauma were not
addressed.
She was awarded a considerable sum of compensation for her mother’s murder. It
was unfortunate that this fuelled an escalating drug habit. Concerns were expressed
by Social Worker 1 about her ability to manage the money; the Court of Protection
was mentioned but was not proceeded with, possibly because Louisa Ovington being
over 18 and having capacity would not have met the criteria. Her behaviour became
increasingly chaotic and dangerous and brought her into contact with the criminal
justice system.
14 Her 2nd and 3rd groups of offences
15 5th admission to hospital
16 4th offence