A barmaid and cleaner from Chesham was found dead by a friend having hanged herself after an evening “drinking and dancing”, an inquest has heard.

Thirty-four-year-old Ria Gibbs died at her home address in Chesham on June 11 this year after spending an evening with her friend.

The inquest, held at Buckinghamshire Coroners Court on Wednesday morning, heard how the friends had been talking on Facebook before they decided to meet at Ria’s house.

Special Investigator Emma Barlow from Thames Valley Police said: “Gemma and Ria were talking on Facebook and agreed to go to her house at 2.30am.

“She [Gemma] took some alcohol with her. They were dancing and drinking until 6/7am. Ria suggested to Gemma that they should buy some drugs, but Gemma did not see her consume any.”

Gemma then went upstairs to sleep before she woke up at around 9.30am.

The court heard how Gemma then went downstairs after waking up and discovered Ria’s body.

PC Barlow went on to confirm that “no note was discovered at the scene” and that there was “no indication to anyone else that she intended to take her own life.”

A post-mortem found that there was both alcohol and cocaine in Ria’s system when she died.

Senior Coroner Crispin Butler ruled an open conclusion into Ria’s death, which occurred as a result of hanging.

Mr Butler said that because no note was found at the scene and there had not been any prior suggestion that Ms Gibbs intended to take her own life, he could only record an open conclusion.

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