John Sweetman

Life didn't get any easier for Elaine.

Her beloved ma'am Eileen died in 2002 at just 52 years of age, followed by her doctor's death a few years later.

With two of her biggest supporters gone, Elaine started to spiral.

During a hospital stay in 2005, Elaine told staff, I wasn't born for life.

No one likes me.

I'm a bad person.

By this time, she was showing masochistic behaviours and continued to self-harm.

These hospital notes painted a sad picture.

She smoked 40 cigarettes a day.

She lives a very lonely life with no friends and finds it difficult to trust people.

Despite her struggles, Elaine was bright and possessed a great drive and ambition.

She wanted to become a teacher, but the formal academic qualifications needed made it difficult.

She went on to study childcare instead.

Elaine worked hard to overcome her struggles and in 2010 she bought her own apartment through the County Council's affordable housing scheme.

This helped Elaine's independence grow.

She was well liked at all her places of work and she'd been at the shop in Black Rock for 10 years.

Her boss acknowledged he had his difficulties with her but they worked through them and she was highly valued there.

If a full-timer was sick, Elaine would be the first person he'd call.

She was trustworthy and dependable, a keyholder for the shop.

She had a strong community who cared about her, even if at times they didn't understand her.