A YOUNG mum from Tilehurst took her own life after years of sexual abuse and depression.

Amy Gillian Maunder, 23, of Spey Road, died between July 9 and 12 last year at her home address after taking an overdose of prescription pills.

At an inquest into her death, held at Reading Town Hall on Thursday, April 19, the court heard how Miss Maunder, who had two young sons, had a lethal cocktail of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and prescription drugs in her system following her death.

The inquest heard how Miss Maunder, who worked behind the bar at The Horn public house in Reading town centre, had been repeatedly groomed by an unnamed man from the age of 12, and had made previous attempts to take her own life.

She had struggled with alcohol and drugs over the years, leading to her two sons being taken out of her care to live with their fathers.

Her doctor had prescribed her with the antidepressant Sertraline, and friends reported that she seemed happy and focused, and felt proud that she had recently secured employment.

The court heard how in the days leading up to Miss Maunder's death, she was embarking on a bid to regain custody of her children, but in text messages read out to the court, she felt that members of her family were deliberately sabotaging her chances.

She was due to appear in court on Monday, July 10, but when she failed to show, social services raised a concern for welfare with the police.

On the morning of July 12, police attended Miss Maunder's address where they found the front door unlocked. They called out, but when they received no answer, they proceeded to search the property.

Miss Maunder's lifeless body was found on the floor of the living room, surrounded by empty wine bottles, blister packets of medication which had been prescribed to her grandmother, and a photo of her sons. Paramedics were called, but nothing could be done to save her.

A post-mortem revealed toxic levels of medication in her system, but no traces of the antidepressant she had been prescribed. Her grandmother Gillian confirmed that the medication which caused her granddaughter's death was in fact hers, but didn't know when Miss Maunder had taken it from her house.

Coroner Alison McCormick said: "I have to be satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that Amy intended to take her own life.

"Given the circumstances in which she was found, and her history of self-harm, I am satisfied that is what she meant to do."

Addressing Amy's mother, grandmother and siblings, Ms McCormick said: "I can tell how much you loved her, and how much she was supported, even if it didn't seem that way. It is a two-way street.

"By being here today, you have shown how much you loved and cared for her."

The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.