We are all in shock at tragic death of teenager (From This Is Wiltshire)

We are all in shock at tragic death of teenager

9:19am Wednesday 20th September 2006

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A MILITARY-STYLE blockade was in operation at John Street car park as police tried to unravel the mysterious death of teenager Lorna Gibbison.

The 17-year-old was found by a workman in a courtyard behind Alexander House in Fleming Way just after 9am on Monday.

She had not been seen since 10.30pm on Friday night.

In front of inquisitive passers-by yesterday lunchtime, half-a-dozen police officers and police community support officers carried out a sweeping search of the car park and alleyway close to where Lorna was found by a workman.

Several bags of evidence were collected as officers sifted through bins for clues, while the car park and surrounding area was designated a no-go zone to all members of the public.

And as the investigation into the circumstances of the Bishopstone youngster's death rolled on throughout the day, workers and passers-by were still coming to terms with the grim discovery.

Gary Dunn, a bar worker at Swindon Snooker, said his customers were shaken by the whole episode.

"People in here have been really shocked," he said. "I came in last night so that was the first I knew about it.

"The police actually came up here to the snooker club last night and were examining the fire exits from all the buildings."

Snooker club member Shaun Rumming, 18, of Henry Street, was also taken aback by events. He said: "I was quite shocked because I saw all the police activity on Monday and I read all about it in the paper when I got up.

"These kind of things are going on all the time. It is very sad. I was in the same tutor group as Cherelle Parker, so this has reminded me of that."

Cherelle Parker, 16, was found dead in the Carlton Street car park off Carfax Street in June last year. Her death is believed to have been drug-related, but no inquest has yet been heard.

Graheme Duke, 22, of West Swindon, said: "I only heard about what happened today. It is pretty sick."

As news of the tragedy began to filter out, more and more passers-by looked on incredulously.

Roy Martin, 79, of Gorse Hill, said: "I heard something on the TV on Monday night about a body being found, but I didn't take any notice.

"It is terrible that something should happen to a young girl."

Arthur Nums, 78, of Rodbourne, said: "I tried to park my bike in the car park and the police said I couldn't get in.

"Initially I thought it must be drugs, as a bloke of my age would, as there is so much of it going on.

"It is so bad around this part of town and it is particularly bad on Saturday nights with everybody out drinking."

Chip shop manager Paul Hext, of Central Fish Fry in John Street, witnessed the increase in police presence as the morning wore on.

"The police have stopped people going in the multi-storey all morning," said the 29-year-old.

"There were only a few policemen earlier on, but quite a few more arrived by lunchtime."

I still can't believe it. You don't expect that to happen to one so young' - cafe worker

EMPLOYEES working in Alexander House are trying to get back to normal after the body of Bishopstone teenager Lorna Gibbison was discovered in a courtyard at the rear of the office block in Fleming Way.

But centre manager Rachel Hampson was still visibly shaken as she recalled the moment she saw the 17-year-old's body.

Ms Hampson, who manages Alexander House on behalf of Lenta Business Centres, had been upstairs dealing with clients when the workman who initially found Lorna was calling the emergency services.

"The workman was a guy who was working as a subcontractor upstairs," she explained.

"He was putting up some partitioning and I gave him the keys to the garage so he could go and get his materials.

"I then went upstairs as I had a conference booking so I was getting the teas and coffee ready. When I came downstairs he was on the phone to the police so I went outside to have a look.

"It was very upsetting. You don't expect something like that to happen to a young girl. I've heard that she may have fallen, but there was no way she could have got in here to a window.

"Business has been going on as usual but no-one is allowed to go out the back.

"The courtyard is a tiny little place behind the garage. We don't use it and it is netted to keep the pigeons out."

Sharon Taylor was working in the Bonanza Caf in Fleet Street on the morning the body was discovered.

One of her colleagues, who does not wish to be named, also witnessed the young girl's body as she went to put some rubbish out.

"She came and told me I've just seen a dead body'," Sharon said. "The builder called the police, but I was just totally shocked and she was quite shaken by it.

"She just said she had seen the girl's legs. I still can't believe it. You just don't expect that to happen to someone so young."

Police plea as they hunt for clues

POLICE are desperate to hear from anyone who may know about the tragic death of 17-year-old Lorna Gibbison.

Lorna, described as a slim, attractive young girl with long dark hair, was wearing black hipster trousers, a black T-shirt, flip-flop-type footwear and an upper dental brace at the time she was found.

Police have confirmed that she left her family home in Bishopstone about 10 days ago and was living in a rented room in Frobisher Drive, Walcot.

Police say they are keeping an open mind about her death. A post-mortem was carried out at Southmead Hospital in Bristol yesterday to establish the cause.

Lorna had been signed up with an employment agency and for the past three weeks had been working as a part-time waitress at the Harrow Inn in the High Street, Wanborough. She also worked at Chatsworth House in Bath Road.

She finished work at the pub at 10.30pm on Friday when she was picked up by a taxi, but did not turn up for work at the pub, as arranged, at 7pm on Saturday.

There are no details of where Lorna was between being picked up by the taxi and when she was discovered on Monday.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who was at the Harrow Inn on Friday evening and saw or spoke to Lorna, particularly anyone who saw her leave.

It is unclear whether Lorna left the pub alone or with someone else.

Any acquaintances of Lorna, particularly friends and colleagues, are urged to contact police so detectives can build up a detailed picture of her.

Police would also like to speak to anyone who can help them piece together Lorna's movements since leaving the family home 10 days ago.

Also, as where Lorna was found is near many pubs and clubs, police believe someone may have seen or spoken to Lorna before her death.

Supt Richard Rowland said: "At this stage we simply do not know what happened to Lorna, therefore, it is appropriate to treat her death as unexplained. Extensive resources have been committed to this inquiry, which includes especially trained family liaison officers who are working closely with Lorna's family.

"It is vitally important for people to come forward with any information, no matter how small.

"You may think it is not important or relevant but we would ask you to let us make that decision.

"I would like to reassure the public that there is no reason to indicate that Lorna's death is anything other than an isolated incident.

"We are doing everything possible to establish the circumstances surrounding the unexplained death."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Swindon police on 0845 408 7000, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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