Schoolgirl hanged herself after nurse failed to tell police about rape claim

Anna Marie Averill was once among the brightest students in the country and dreamed of becoming a paediatrician.

But she hanged herself after detailing her abuse to a psychiatric nurse.

The nurse should have reported the claims immediately, but agreed to keep the conversation confidential.

Now a watchdog's report has criticised agencies involved in treating her for depression and said delays could have led to other potential victims being put at risk from her attacker.

The child abuse charity Kidscape called the case "appalling".

Director Michelle Elliott said: "It is clear poor decisions were made and partly as a result of that we have a child who is dead."

Anna Marie, of Bartley Green, Birmingham, first spoke of the rape to a community psychiatric nurse in April 2005, but insisted it must be kept secret.

She repeated the allegation to a social worker after being admitted to hospital suffering from a drug overdose.

Later that week social services held a strategy meeting at which the disclosure to the nurse came to light.

Police were called in and interviewed Anna Marie at her school. But on May 1, her mother found her hanged.

Her death, and the loss of vital evidence, is thought to have contributed to a decision not to charge the 64-year-old man she identified as her abuser.

Last year he was jailed for five years for a string of sex attacks.

The report by the Birmingham Children Safeguarding Board,which investigates child deaths where neglect or abuse are suspected, says: "There is evidence of professionals respecting her confidentiality rather than referring the allegation to either the police or social workers.

"There is also evidence of delayed responses by some agencies to allegations made and progression of investigation, all of which could have led to others being put at risk.

"It is impossible to say whether earlier investigation would have led to a different outcome. What is clear is that there are lessons to be learned."

On transferring to Hillcrest School in September 2000, Anna Marie was described as "a bright and intelligent pupil in the top 15 per cent academically in the country".

But on January 12, 2005, she was admitted to Birmingham Children's Hospital after taking an overdose of tablets.

Over the next four months she was treated for depression at Oaklands Centre, run by the hospital.

During this time Anna Marie took two further overdoses and repeatedly slashed her arm.

A senior social services source said: "Virtually all major inquiries into child abuse deaths have stressed the vital importance of timely interagency communication regarding child abuse."

The source added: "During the time between when Anna Marie first confided in her psychiatric nurse and the time when police visited her at school on April 20 to discuss her abuse allegations, she had effectively been left at the mercy of her abuser."

Following the publication of the report, Dr Charles Ralston, medical director at Birmingham Children's Hospital, said: "We are confident our staff acted appropriately.

"A serious case review identified learning points relating to disclosure and referral for all agencies involved which are being implemented."

Anna Marie's parents, Patrick and Annette, who said at the time that she had been driven to suicide by school bullies, were not available for comment yesterday.