'Traumatised' Elizabeth Outram was found hanging at her home last September after a night out to celebrate her birthday at the Shard
A woman committed suicide on her 30th birthday after being filmed shoplifting on a 'caught on camera' TV show, an inquest has heard.
Elizabeth Outram was found hanging at her home in Hackney, east London after a night out to celebrate her birthday at the Shard in September last year.
Miss Outram had suffered from depression, anxiety and panic attacks since 2007.
He mental health had stabilised by last summer when she visited Brighton for a friend's hen do, Poplar Coroners' Court heard.
She switched price tags on a leather jacket in a TK Maxx store and was detained by shop staff and charged with fraud.
The incident was captured by a TV firm which was filming a reality show.
Miss Outram’s sister Alexandra, 31, told the inquest: “She was traumatised by it and even further she was filmed by a production company.
"They hounded her, kept sending her messages and calling her, she told them she was receiving psychiatric treatment and she wasn’t well but it was just ignored.”
Alexandra told the Evening Standard that her sister “thought her life was over. She was so embarrassed to even tell me… When she was taken into the back room and questioned they were filming her. She said ‘You can’t film me’ and they said ‘We can’. She said she was ill but they did not call her carer — me.
“Afterwards they sent her messages telling her they could use it and they were going to.”
Elizabeth attempted suicide by overdosing on antidepressants on August 14 when due in court on fraud charges.
She took her own life a month later. In a note she asked to be buried alongside her father in the City of London Crematorium.
She wrote: “I don’t need to say anything else, it’s all been said and done.”
Nicholas Price, a Consultant psychiatrist, told the inquest Elizabeth Outram’s condition had deteriorated following her arrest. He said: “She cared very much about her reputation and she felt that this was a terrible blow.”
Recording a verdict of suicide, coroner Mary Elizabeth Hassell said: “She was 30 and reflecting on her life. She had an appalling experience and was dreading exposure on national TV.
“Despite making headway with her health, and despite having a very loving family, it wasn’t enough.”
Alexandra Outram said that following her sister’s death the production company told her it would not broadcast the footage.