A TALENTED Taunton artist died from acute caffeine toxicity, an inquest has heard.

Charlotte Esme Hann, 37, was found dead by two police officers who broke into her council flat in Enmore Road after a neighbour expressed concern for her welfare.

Post mortem tests later showed she had self-administered a large amount of caffeine powder before her body was discovered on 27 June last year.

The inquest in Taunton today (Thursday) heard that Miss Hann, who was single and lived on her own, had suffered a long history of health issues from a young age.

She had complications following an operation for appendicitis when she was 12, and developed peritonitis, anorexia nervosa, and bowel problems resulting in chronic abdominal pain.

Miss Hann's weight was just 30 kilos the year before her death and at one stage her Body Mass Index (BMI) was 11 - the healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9.

Her poor diet led to her suffering from severe osteoporosis.

She received counselling and treatment for psychiatric issues, made worse by the deaths of her parents, but did not always engage with the professional team that cared for her.

Miss Hann was admitted to the Holden eating disorder unit in Exeter in January 2019, but she discharged herself and returned home.

She claimed she missed a number of appointments over the years due to alleged abuse by professionals, although she declined to take the matter further.

The inquest heard that Miss Hann's neighbour alerted police after failing to see her for six days and noticing a build up of her mail.

Officers who attended the premises were forced to cut through the security chain on the inside of the door to her flat.

It is possible Miss Hann may have been dead for a number of days before her body was found.

Post mortem tests showed her body contained 467mg of caffeine per litre of blood - the average amount connected with seizures common in deaths is 187mg.

Somerset senior coroner Tony Williams said Miss Hann had been offered open access to health services, although she chose not to use them on occasions.

He recorded a conclusion that she died from acute caffeine toxicity on or about June 27 last year, but he said there was no evidence she intended to take her own life.

Giving a narrative conclusion, Mr Williams added: "Charlotte Hann deliberately self-administered caffeine intravenously, but her intentions at that time have not been established."

f you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, contact the Samaritans. Volunteers are ordinary people who provide a safe place for people to talk. Tel 116 123 or e-mail jo@samaritans.org. website www.samaritans