Petra Blanksby

Petra Blanksby, 19, was a loving twin sister and devoted mother.

Following childhood abuse, Petra and her identical twin Kirsty were taken into care.

Petra spent much of her teenage years in and out of mental health hospitals. She was eventually diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, a diagnosis which is disproportionately given to women. At the time, mental health services deemed Petra 'untreatable' as a result.

Petra was sent to New Hall Prison on remand in 2003 after setting fire to her bed during a mental health crisis. She died eight months later after taking her own life whilst on suicide watch.

At the inquest, the coroner found that prison was not a suitable place for Petra and recommended that women with mental ill health should be cared for in secure therapeutic placements.

A decade later, Emily Hartley would die in the same prison in almost exactly the same circumstances.

Following Petra’s death, her dad and Kirsty campaigned to end the imprisonment of women with mental ill health. Kirsty took her own life 15 years and a day after Petra’s death.