Second inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting concludes

The second inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, who died in February 2017, has concluded. Ms Whiting died following the withdrawal of state benefits which an earlier independent report had concluded was significantly flawed.

The inquest follows the application by Ms Whiting’s mother, Joy Dove, for a fresh inquest: that application was initially rejected by the Divisional Court (in Dove v HM Assistant Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool [2021] EWHC 2511 (Admin)) but then allowed by the Court of Appeal (see [2023] EWCA Civ 289). The Court of Appeal allowed the application under s.13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to quash the Assistant Coroner’s inquisition. The Court of Appeal concluded that it was in the interests of justice to allow a fresh inquest following evidence from a psychiatrist as to the likely effect of decisions by the Department of Work and Pensions to withdraw Ms Whiting’s benefits. The Court of Appeal rejected the argument that article 2 of the European Convention was engaged such that s.5(2) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 applied.

On 2 June 2025, the Senior Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool concluded that Ms Whiting died by suicide in the context of a deteriorating mental state which was precipitated by the withdrawal of state benefits.

Having heard evidence from a senior director within the Department of Work and Pensions, the coroner concluded that no report to prevent future deaths was necessary.

The inquest has received significant media attention, including: BBC; Sky News; Guardian; Daily Mail.

Jonathan Dixey appeared on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions at the inquest and in the Court of Appeal.