Rape case closure 'a huge miscarriage of justice'
SuppliedWarning: this article contains references to suicide.
The family of a "vulnerable" teenager who took her own life after saying she had been raped at work has called the closure of the police investigation a "huge miscarriage of justice".
The inquest into 18-year-old Lauren Hewson's death was told she had been sexually assaulted and raped while working as an apprentice at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, by a staff member who no longer works for the company.
Cumbria Police said a man had been arrested and released on bail, but no charges were brought against him because the case did not meet the evidential threshold.
BAE Systems said it had "rigorous safeguarding procedures to support and protect apprentices".
The teenager's sister, Bethany Hewson, said: "What we are feeling at the minute is a huge miscarriage of justice, not only legally in terms of the perpetrator walking free, but by the failings of her employer to protect a vulnerable young girl - she was still a child."
The force said its investigation continued after the teenager's death in August 2025 but had since concluded. The family were informed earlier this month, it said.
SuppliedThe inquest at Cumbria Coroner's Court heard the teenager joined BAE Systems in 2023.
Her sister told the inquestshe had "flourished into a loving and independent young woman".
However, the 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," she said.
"She let go of her appearance and started to lose weight quite drastically."
The inquest heard she subsequently told her family she had been abused and police were notified.
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On 28 July last year - her 18th birthday - she attempted to take her own life and was admitted to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, but was discharged after telling medical staff she did not intend to further harm herself, the inquest heard.
A week later, she was found unresponsive in her bedroom and declared dead by emergency first responders.
Her mother, Helen Bamber, said in a statement to 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 she intentionally died by suicide.
"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," he said.
The family also said the apprentice was "not properly safeguarded" by BAE Systems.
"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," her sister said.
BAE Systems said its safeguarding procedures were "regularly reviewed to ensure they align with regulatory guidance and are benchmarked against best practice".
"We take any allegation of misconduct seriously and investigate thoroughly, while supporting those affected and taking appropriate action as necessary," a spokesperson said.
