Teen who ‘took her own life’ after being groomed by extremists was being spied on by MI5

A TEEN suspected of taking her own life after being groomed by extremists was being spied on by MI5, an inquest heard.

Rhianan Rudd became the youngest person charged with terrorism in the UK when she was detained aged 15.

The case was later dropped after the Home Office ruled she was a victim of sexual exploitation by far-right extremists.

Rhiannon is suspected of taking her own life aged 16 at a children’s home – around 18 months after she was first held.

A pre-inquest review today heard MI5 had “provided police with intelligence” during their criminal investigation.

Jesse Nicholls, representing Rhianan’s mother, said: “Rhianan was a child who died in circumstances involving an exceptional period of state involvement leading up to her death.

“It appears it (MI5) was monitoring her, and getting information about what steps it then took is relevant and should be examined.”

But Chesterfield Coroner’s Court was told the agency had no involvement in Rhianan’s arrest and charge.

Rhianan, who had autism, was held in October 2020 accused of downloading a bomb-making manual and plotting a terror attack.

The teen was charged in April 2021 but the charges were dropped after evidence emerged she had been groomed by American extremist Christopher Cook.

Ms Nicholls said MI5 appeared to be monitoring Rhianan at the time she was being groomed.

But the court was told although the agency “considers” mental health, the provision of “care and support is not part of its statutory functions or role”.

Neil Sheldon KC, representing the Home Office including MI5, said: “We accept you will be scrutinising sensitive material very carefully to see what if any information was known about the risk of self-harm or suicide, and what if anything was done in respect of that information.

“We maintain that this is not a case in which it is necessary to assess the substance of the underlying intelligence collected by MI5.”

A full inquest is due to be held on February 26 and will last for three weeks.

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