A 'vulnerable' teenager who took her own life after alleging she was raped by a colleague suffered a 'huge miscarriage of justice', her family has said.
Lauren Hewson, who first attempted suicide on her 18th birthday, claimed she was sexually assaulted and raped while working as an apprentice at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, by a staff member no longer employed by the company.
Cumbria Police confirmed that a man was arrested and released on bail, but no charges were brought due to insufficient evidence. The investigation continued after Lauren's death in August 2025, but her family was informed earlier this month that it had concluded.
Family's Grief and Accusations
Lauren's sister, Bethany, expressed the family's anguish: 'What we are feeling at the minute is a huge miscarriage of justice... by the failings of her employer to protect a vulnerable young girl - she was still a child.'
An inquest at Cumbria Coroner's Court heard that Lauren started at BAE Systems in 2023. Her sister described how Lauren had 'flourished into a loving and independent young woman' but that her family 'noticed a change in her' from June last year.
'She started to isolate herself, she would shut herself in her bedroom and refuse to come out, and she wasn't engaging in conversation,' Bethany said. 'She let go of her appearance and started to lose weight quite drastically.'
The inquest heard that Lauren later disclosed the abuse to her family, who then notified the police.
Failed Suicide Attempt and Death
Lauren first attempted to take her own life on her 18th birthday, July 28 last year, and was admitted to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. However, she was discharged after telling medical staff she had no intention of further harming herself.
A week later, she was found unresponsive in her bedroom and pronounced dead by first responders.
Her mother, Helen Bamber, told the inquest: 'Lauren believed her life had been ruined, she just could not see a way out, but she was a strong, determined girl.'
Assistant coroner Robert Cohen ruled that she intentionally died by suicide. He added: 'Lauren went on to make very serious allegations, and it is also right to record the family's position that had it not been for those incidents, Lauren would not have died.'
Criticism of BAE Systems
The family also stated that Lauren was 'not properly safeguarded' by BAE Systems. Her sister said: 'If Lauren had the correct support in the workplace to fit with her needs, then she may have felt brave enough to speak out and report what was going on, but sadly she didn't have that chance.'
BAE Systems responded by saying it has 'rigorous safeguarding procedures to support and protect apprentices' and that these procedures are 'regularly reviewed to ensure they align with regulatory guidance and are benchmarked against best practice'.
A spokesperson added: 'We take any allegation of misconduct seriously and investigate thoroughly, while supporting those affected and taking appropriate action as necessary.'
