16-year-old girl found deceased at private school on eve of her first detention; father shares poignant last diary entry
Heartbreaking details of schoolgirl’s death revealed at inquest after she was found in secluded area
A girl found dead at private school the day before her first-ever detention wrote a heartbreaking final diary entry, an inquest heard.
Caitlyn Scott-Lee, 16, was discovered in a secluded area of Wycombe Abbey school in Buckinghamshire on April 12 last year.
Caitlyn Scott-Lee was found dead at her private school in April last yearCredit: Caitlyn Scott-Lee
Her dad Jonathan today paid tribute at an inquest into her death
Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court heard the teen was due to take part in detention the following day after alcohol was found in her locker.
Caitlyn’s heartbroken father Jonathan Scott-Lee today shared his daughter’s final diary entry where she spoke of wanting to die while saying goodbye to her friends.
The grieving father also paid tribute to the "daddy’s girl" on the first day of her inquest.
Jonathan said: "I took care of her, dressed her, cuddled her, fed her, and soothed her.
"As she grew as a toddler, there would be bitter-sweet moments where she would stand by the window of our home and cry as I left for my daily commute.
"Little did she know I would return each evening."
The senior banker told the court how like him, Caitlyn was also autistic, which meant her feelings were "amplified".
Jonathan explained how he had looked through a photo book before the inquest and was "surprised at how full a life Caitlyn lived in 6,041 days".
He said his daughter obtained a scuba diving licence aged just 10, played tennis in Scotland, modelled in Singapore and rode in helicopters in New Zealand.
The adventurous schoolgirl also skied across Japan, hiked the Great Wall of China and even honed her rifle marksmanship.
Jonathan added: "Caitlyn was so much more than autism, Wycombe Abbey, and detention."
The inquest was told staff had searched for Caitlyn after she failed to return in time for curfew at her boarding school accommodation.
She was then tragically found in a secluded area of the school that night.
Headmistress Jo Duncan told the court Caitlyn was a "much loved pupil" with a love of the performing arts.
She said she was satisfied the school acted appropriately in accordance with school procedures in the weeks and months leading up to Caitlyn’s death.
Wycombe Abbey was founded in 1896 and currently has 656 pupils with 591 boarders.
Notable alumni include actresses Sally Phillips and Rachael Stirling.
The inquest continues.
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