Two charged with manslaughter over Blackpool death of emaciated and neglected 24-year-old

Deborah Leitch, who had Down’s syndrome, was also suffering with scabies before her body was found in seaside town

Deborah Leitch (Lancashire Police)

Two people have been charged with manslaughter after a woman with Down’s syndrome died from severe emaciation and neglect in Blackpool.

Elaine Clarke, 48, and Robert Bruce, 45, will appear before magistrates next month in connection with the death of Deborah Leitch in the seaside resort.

The 24-year-old’s body was discovered at her home in the town’s Garden Terrace on 29 August 2019. She was found to have been severely emaciated and was suffering with an extensive scabies skin infection at the time she passed away.

Speaking at the time, her family described her as a “wonderful girl” who was “always happy and always friendly”.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said on Tuesday: “Police were called by the ambulance service around 10.40pm on August 29th, 2019 to a report paramedics were attending an address on Garden Terrace.

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"Officers attended and sadly found the body of a 24-year-old Deborah Leitch, known as Debbie, deceased inside the address.

"A total of six people were interviewed as suspects in connection with the inquiry and following a thorough police investigation and after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service two people have been summonsed to appear at court.”

Clarke, of Garden Terrace in Blackpool, and Bruce, of Windsor Crescent in Rothwell, Leeds, are both charged with manslaughter while Bruce is also accused of allowing or causing the death of a vulnerable adult.

They will appear at Blackpool Magistrates Court on 20 April.