Missing woman drowned after driving her Mini into an icy lake

A missing woman drowned after driving her Mini into an icy lake 200 miles from her home in London, a year after she was allegedly raped by a work colleague, an inquest has revealed.

Hannah Warren, 28, extricated herself from the submerged car and swam to nearby rocks before tragically falling back into the freezing waters near a Tata Steel plant in Port Talbot after her death.

Her body was found more than 100 meters from where the mini-convertible hit the lake on February 4, 2016 – a day she was first reported missing from her home in Streatham, south-west London .

During an inquest yesterday, Ms Warren’s mother, Jane Barnes, said her daughter had died almost a year to the day after she was allegedly assaulted by a work colleague. The hearing was told that she had confided in her brother about the alleged incident and was taking advice.

Ms Warren disappeared in her car around 6am on February 3, 2016 and later texted her boss to say she intended to quit her job at an office design firm in London, the inquest said.

She drove 200 miles to Port Talbot before plunging into the water off a quay road with no safety barriers.

Her face and body were covered with bruises and abrasions, including on her neck, said Home Office pathologist Dr. Ryk James. The expert suggested that this could have been caused by the car’s seat belt.

He told the inquest that he believed Ms Warren died as a result of the drowning.

The pathologist also said there were “low” levels of cocaine and cannabis in her system, while telling the hearing she was in a “distorted” mental state at the time of her death.

Ms Barnes also told how Ms Warren worked hard to land a key role at an office refurbishment company in London.

The investigation continues.