Mum Found Dead in Blackpool Restaurant Toilet After Three Days May Have Been Seeking Warmth, Inquest Hears

A 47-year-old mother of two was discovered dead inside a locked disabled toilet at the Gurkha Hotel Pub and Restaurant in Blackpool, three days after she entered the facility. An inquest has heard that Sabrina Lyttle may have gone inside simply to keep warm.

Sabrina was last seen entering the restaurant’s disabled toilet on the evening of November 28. Her body was not discovered until November 30, when staff noticed something unusual through the keyhole and alerted police. Officers forced open the door and found Lyttle unresponsive. A crack pipe, a carrier bag, a magazine, and a packet of Bakewell cherry tarts were found next to her body.

Detective Inspector Liam Davy, who led the investigation, told the court there were no signs of external injury or foul play. “My hypothesis at the time was she possibly entered the toilet to keep warm and that her death was caused by the drugs or because of a medical episode,” he stated.

Toxicology reports revealed the presence of cocaine, Valium, methadone, and a small amount of alcohol in her system. Consultant forensic pathologist Dr. Richard Shepherd said there were no signs of major illness or trauma, but noted that Lyttle’s recent release from prison likely lowered her drug tolerance, making her more vulnerable to overdose.

“A period in prison – even one as short as three weeks – can significantly reduce drug tolerance,” Dr. Shepherd explained. “That drop in tolerance may have played a role in her death.”

Lyttle had recently served part of an eight-week sentence for theft. Her family — including her 27-year-old daughter Jade Casey and mother Christine, 68 — were visibly emotional during the hearing. They said they were still uncertain why she chose that toilet that night.

Friend Erika Zazzu, who launched a GoFundMe page in her memory, described Sabrina as “a person who was in pain and who dealt with that pain as best she could” and remembered her as a loving mother.

The Gurkha restaurant confirmed that the toilet had not been used again during that time and claimed the door must have been forcibly opened or picked, as it is typically locked when not in use. Staff from the establishment attended the inquest but did not testify.

The coroner is expected to deliver a formal conclusion in the coming days.