By Tragedy as Cleethorpes mum took her own life after relentless abuse from neighbours
A “loving” and devoted single mother sadly took her own life following a relentless dispute at her home in Cleethorpes involving neighbours and ASB.
Sytske Luikens, 51, of Bentley Street, was found dead on a farm track next to her car off the B1225 near Caistor on June 19 last year. She worked as a social worker and is understood to have had mental health difficulties.
Rubbish was regularly thrown into her property over the wall and when she would confront those responsible she allegedly faced relentless verbal sexual abuse.
She was accused of racial discrimination and was later arrested by Humberside Police after items were thrown through her window.
She was suspended from her work and told mental health support workers that if she lost her job she would “end it all.”
On June 19, last year, she was found on a farm track next to her car, off the B1225 near Caistor, she was filed as a missing person at the time.
Assistant coroner for North East Lincolnshire, Marianne Johnson said the long-running dispute with the neighbours had spilled over into verbal sexual abuse of the single-mum and counter allegations of verbal racial abuse.
Mrs Johnson concluded the death was suicide after reading the note and evidence of the overdose of prescribed sedative drugs Sytske had taken
“It was clear this issue severely affected her mental state and was the catalyst. Allegations were made against her which were unfounded. She was taken into custody which affected her mental health. She took the brunt of the dispute and that affected her work. Her suspension from work was a factor and she felt she was not able to carry on,” the assistant coroner said.
Maaike Luikens said other neighbours in the street had problems with their daughter’s neighbours. “She was a loving person and she loved her children. She was a fantastic mother,” she said.
Mrs Johnson passed her condolences to the parents Maaike and Frederik Luikens, who sat through the hearing with a photograph of their daughter. “You should be very proud of her. She had achieved a lot and was clearly a loving mother,” she said.
Following the tragedy, Humberside Police Chief Superintendent Darren Wildbore said: “Our Professional Standards department carries out a full and thorough review of any incident where a person has died after we have recently been in contact with them to ascertain whether our actions may have contributed directly or indirectly to the circumstances of the death.
“Where necessary we make both voluntary and mandatory referrals to the IOPC, at the earliest opportunity. In this investigation, following a thorough review, it was concluded that there was nothing to indicate that this was the case and, on this occasion, no referral was required.
“In every case, our thoughts are always with the family of those who have passed away, and we have specially trained officers to ensure that they receive the support they need throughout the investigative process as we continue to support the coronial process.”
