A mother who was left devastated after her daughter was found dead in a basement, says the police added to her family's grief.

Vickie Foster was found in a Parr Head Mews, off Corporation Street, Rochester, on Friday, June 29, last year.

An inquest into the mum-of-two's death last month heard how the 41-year-old was of no fixed address and had been dependent on alcohol and drugs.

Scroll down to listen to Eileen Foster talk about her grief

Her death was determined as non-suspicious, and as a result of sudden unexpected death in alcohol misuse.

A year on, Vickie's mother Eileen has criticised police and the coroners' service for the lack of communication she received following her daughter's death.

However, both organisations have responded to say they feel they acted appropriately throughout.

On the evening of June 29, Mrs Foster was informed of Vickie's passing by her brother-in-law, who had been her next-of-kin.

She called police three times to find out more details and was referred several times.

She said: "Two police officers came to us but said they couldn't tell us any more as they were not from Medway."

Mrs Foster was unaware of her daughter's whereabouts; the pair did not see each other due to Vickie's alcoholism but would talk on the phone.

The last she had heard, her daughter had been living with her boyfriend in a caravan in Ashford, but prior to her death, she was intending to go to the Strand in Gillingham with plans to camp there.

Mrs Foster visited the place where Vickie's body was found, and spoke to a man in a neighbouring flat who said he heard Vickie and her boyfriend fighting in a nearby alleyway.

He had later given her a pillow and blanket to use to bed down in the basement.

The following morning, the same man rang 999 when he found Vickie dead.

Mrs Foster, of Burston Road, Coxheath, says following the death she was not contacted by officers immediately.

She visited the police station in August to collect her daughter's belongings and told them she hadn't heard from the police on the day of the death.

She also contacted the coroner's officer multiple times in order to find out details about the inquest.

She was informed the police officer in charge of the case would be at the inquest, but when it was held on May 26, he was on leave.

‘I wanted to know why we were let down. Vickie had been known to police’

She added: "We understood he had been called to attend and we thought we would get the chance to ask questions.

"It was lots of little things that gave us bad feelings about the police. I wanted to know why we were let down. Vickie had been known to police, if they had done more work, particularly on the day she was discovered, they would have found out about Vickie's family.

"The communication with the coroner's service wasn't great; I even cancelled a hospital appointment one day and I stayed at home all day when I was told they would call us to talk about Vickie's reports, and nothing. I didn't end up getting a call until 10 days later."

Mrs Foster wanted to lodge a complaint against the police, but was told as she did not have a named officer to complain against, she would have been unable to do so.

In response, Medway district commander Chief Inspector Rob Marsh said: "When officers attend an incident where someone has died, it is their duty to identify and notify that person’s next-of-kin.

"Following the death of Vickie Foster in June 2018, officers established the identity of her next-of-kin, who was a family member, and ensured they were notified.

"When contacted by Vickie’s parents later that day, officers visited them in person to notify them of the death.

"A further visit was made at a later date to discuss some concerns they raised. Our officers regularly attend inquests and support the coronial process.

"On this occasion the investigating officer was advised by the coroner’s office that Vickie’s inquest could proceed without him.

"The officer has since contacted Vickie’s parents to answer any further questions they may have about the circumstances of their daughter’s death, and our sympathies are with them at this difficult time."

A coroners’ service spokesman said: "We have received no formal complaint from any of the deceased’s relatives, but we have looked into this case nevertheless.

"Following notification of her death, there was an initial delay in contacting the parents, as they were not listed as the next-of-kin.

"However, from that point on, we believe our service acted entirely in accordance with the standards as published by the Ministry of Justice."

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