Woman, 24, found dead on coastal path after CCTV sparked 12-day hunt

A young woman whose body was found near a coastal beauty spot 12 days after she disappeared died of cocaine intoxication, a coroner confirmed today.

Leah Daley, 24, was found dead on May 17 after she told friends she was going for a walk to 'clear her head' when she was last seen on May 5 in Folkestone, an inquest opening has heard.

CCTV footage of Ms Daley before her disappearance sparked an urgent police and social media appeal to find her.

Ms Daley's family made an emotional appeal for help to find at the time her saying: 'people do not just vanish'.

The opening into her inquest today/yesterday was told Ms Daley's body was found by two dogwalkers in an undergrowth at The Warren in Folkestone.

A post-mortem into her death confirmed that Ms Daley died of cocaine intoxication, according to Assistant Coroner Katrina Hepburn.

Four members of Ms Daley's family attended the opening of the inquest today.

At the hearing in Maidstone, Kent, Ms Hepburn said: 'Leah was reported missing on the May 6, 2024. She had last been seen on May 5.

'On that day, she told friends that she was going on a walk to clear her head.'

Ms Hepburn added: 'On May 17, Peter and Jane Jones were walking their dog along The Warren in Folkestone and called Kent Police saying that they had found a body after their dog had run off and found it.'

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She said the body was later identified to be that of Leah Daley.

Ms Hepburn added: 'Identification has been by Acting Detective Sergeant Bennett of Kent Police.

'The post-mortem examination gave the medical cause of death as 1A cocaine intoxication.

'I'm further satisfied upon that there is a reasonable cause to suspect that she has died in circumstances where an inquest in necessary.'

The inquest also heard that Ms Daley had an unknown substance in her backpack when she was found which is set to be tested.

Ms Hepburn said: 'The substance that was found in the backpack has not been tested yet by Kent Police.'

The coroner added that the testing may delay the inquest.

She said: 'If this powder is being analysed by the police, it is likely to take several weeks.

'So if we're hoping to get an answer before the inquest the date may have to be moved.

Ms Hepburn set a provisional date of November 1 for the full inquest to take place.