Mother complains to police after hearing of daughter's death on Facebook

Cheryl Jones saw a Facebook page entitled 'RIP Karla'. Credit: PA

A devastated mother who read of her daughter's death through a Facebook posting has made an official complaint to the police.

Cheryl Jones, 49, called her daughter's mobile in the frantic hope she would reply - only to be answered by a Gwent policeman.

Daughter Karla James, 30, collapsed and died at a flat in Tredegar, south Wales, less than a mile from her home, on July 23.

The stunned mother saw the Facebook tribute "RIP Karla", posted by her daughter's friends, before police found time to inform her officially.

She revealed her heartache today as Gwent Police confirmed it is investigating a formal complaint from both her and her local MP.

But police have condemned the way Facebook was used to publicise the tragic death calling it "a sad indictment of today's society."

Mrs Jones said a nephew initially saw the Facebook posting and called her to find out what had happened.

"I was in a terrible state. I kept asking my nephew what had happened but he didn't want to tell me. I suppose he wanted to save my feelings in case it wasn't true," she told MediaWales.

"Those few hours felt like a lifetime. The whole thing has felt like that. She was dead in that flat and I wasn't told."

She said that she then called her daughter's mobile phone only to be told by a police officer that someone would be round shortly.

Mrs Jones accepts her daughter, once an aspiring model, had taken drugs such as heroin after getting mixed up with the "wrong circles".

The cause of her death remains unknown but it is understood toxicology tests were carried out on her body and an inquest will be held.

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police confirmed that it has received a complaint from Mrs Jones.

"Gwent Police's Professional Standards Department is investigating a complaint relating to the police response following the sudden death of a 30-year-old woman in the Tredegar area on 23rd July 2012.

"Due to the fact that this investigation is currently ongoing, we are not able to offer any further detail at this time. The circumstances of the death have been passed to the Coroner."