The daughter of a “kind-hearted and funny” woman who was found dead in a Blackpool restaurant toilet two days after going inside has spoken about her mum’s determination to overcome her struggles with addiction.
Sabrina Lyttle, a mum-of-two and grandmother, was discovered in a disabled toilet at the Gurkha Buffet Restaurant on November 30 last year. In a heartfelt public tribute, Sabrina’s daughter Jade Casey, 27, expressed that she had “feared this day since I was a child but nothing could have prepared me for the call”.
Jade, who was raised in foster care due to her mother’s issues, described her as a “beautiful soul buried beneath all the trauma and addiction”. She said: “The drugs stripped you of all of the good parts and only left the bad for a long time but I know how hard you fought, for years, you fought so hard mum, but in the end the battle was too fierce.”
Speaking to the Mirror, Jade, 27, from Fleetwood, described her mum as an “intelligent, funny, caring and kind” lady who “lit up a room”. Sabrina, 47, had battled with drug addiction for many years, the family said, but was an empathetic, caring person who put others’ needs before her own, even when she was homeless.
Sabrina had been released from prison only the day before she entered the restaurant, Jade said, having served a brief sentence for petty theft. She was picked up on November 27 and checked into a B&B, before entering the Asian eatery on November 28.
‘Beautiful soul’ Sabrina Lyttle was found in a disabled toilet at a Blackpool restaurant in November
She was later discovered on November 30 after access was gained by police. “I spoke to her in prison to weeks before she was released,” said Jade, who is also a mum, “she was adamant she was going to get a flat and get herself better for her family.”
“Unbeknownst to us, she’d been released and someone from Horizon (a local addiction support service) had picked her up from prison and taken her for breakfast on Wednesday the 27th.” Sabrina’s mum, Christine Lyttle, 68, said she was visited by police on November 30 and delivered the tragic news.
“We just have so many questions and need answers,” said Christine. It comes as an inquest opened into Sabrina’s tragic death, which is due to be resumed in April this year. Jade added: “We don’t currently know the cause of death or when exactly she died.
“The restaurant is one we used to eat at and the staff were great, but I still feel it’s neglectful. We know she had asked a staff member to use the toilet. It probably would have been obvious my mum was someone who had suffered years of homelessness and addiction. Knowing she was on the floor while people were eating, drinking and having Christmas parties is just awful.”
Her family said she had been determined to turn her life after addiction battles
Born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, Sabrina moved to Birmingham as a child and studied law in college, before later moving to Blackpool to join Christine. She had two children, as well as a brother, Daniel, 37.
Jade, who herself is a trained psychologist and has worked with people battling addiction, added: “It’s important we all have a bit more compassion for people with addictions to drugs and alcohol and remember that it’s a symptom or a trauma response. These people are beloved friends and family members.”
A post mortem is still waiting to find the cause of her death and police are not treating it as suspicious. Following reports of her death, the restaurant on Waterloo Road, which serves Chinese, Thai and Indian food, has shared a statement.
A spokesperson for the Gurkha Buffet Restaurant, Hotel and Bar said information circulating online was “not correct” and insisted the disabled toilet was typically inspected after every authorised use
A spokesperson for The Gurkha Restaurant, Hotel and Bar said: “On Thursday 28th November 2024 at 8.34pm, a non-customer member of the public entered the premises and asked to use the toilets.
“As the restaurant had already closed for the evening, directions to the pub toilets, which are in a separate area of the building, were given. Staff in the pub provided further directions to the general pub toilets and did not issue access to the disabled toilet.
“Access to the separate and locked disabled toilet is gained via staff as the facility cannot be opened with a RADAR key. The male and female toilets are deep-cleaned every morning and checked throughout the day, with the disabled toilet checked after every authorised use and cleaned as required, due to infrequent use.
“Access to the disabled toilet was not requested until Friday evening around 10pm. The staff with the assistance of other helpful pub customers were unable to unlock the door and as access had not been granted for the past 24 hours, it was reported as a maintenance issue to management.
“The following day on Saturday before opening, management was unable to gain access using all secure keys and removing the locking mechanism before alerting the police. We are aware of public posts that are full of information that is not correct, and we believe the speculations have not contributed positively to anyone affected, including the grieving family, the dedicated Gurkha staff and the community of Blackpool. We are aware of an ongoing inquest and will not be making any further public comments.”
Sabrina Marlynn Lyttle with mum Christina
An inquest into Sabrina’s death is set to be held at Blackpool Town Hall at about 10am on April 3. Sabrina’s mum Christine, 68, previously said customers had reported not being able to access one of the cubicles in the days before she was found.
A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary previously said: “We were called at shortly after 1pm on Saturday, November 30 to a report of a sudden death at an address on Waterloo Road in Blackpool. Officers attended and sadly the body of a woman in her 40s was found dead inside the address.
“Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this time. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
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