Successful lawyer drowned herself

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A top lawyer who was struggling to balance a demanding career with caring for her three children drowned herself in the Thames, an inquest has heard.

Catherine Bailey, 41, a partner at international law firm SJ Berwin, vanished from her office on 9 January, West London Coroners' Court heard.

The next day South African Ms Bailey, who lived in Islington, north London, was found in the river near Richmond.

Coroner Alice Thompson recorded a verdict of suicide.

Det Sgt Bernard McCabe told the court Mrs Bailey's husband Neil Ashman raised the alarm at 1800 BST when she failed to return from work.

Ms Bailey was a very capable woman and a loving mother of three young children Coroner Alice Thompson

A check of her bank records revealed Ms Bailey had paid for a room at the Thistle Hotel in the Barbican, central London.

But hotel employees could not remember seeing her.

Police then used mobile phone records to trace her movements west from Blackfriars railway station.

Her husband suspected she may be in Kew Gardens, so he and some friends joined police in a search of the area.

At 1720 BST on 10 January, Mr Ashman received what would prove to be a final text message from Ms Bailey.

It read: "Richmond. I am so sorry. All my love to you and the girls. Hold them close."

Half an hour later her body was spotted in the river near Richmond Bridge, south-west London.

'Absolutely tragic'

Ms Bailey had returned to work just before Christmas, shortly after giving birth to her third daughter.

Miss Thompson said:"Ms Bailey was a very capable and professional woman and a loving mother of three young children who found it hard to meet the demands of motherhood and the high standard she had set herself."

Describing the death as an "an absolutely tragic situation", the coroner added: "It is probable she may have been suffering from a degree of post-natal depression."

Tests showed Ms Bailey had very low levels of alcohol, Paracetamol and caffeine in her blood.

She had no history of mental illness.