"Heartbroken Mother Demands Justice After Daughter, 16, Falls Victim to Grooming and Takes Her Own Life"

CARRIS Taylor hugged her mum tighter than normal and told her ‘I might be back later’ – but within hours she was dead.

The teenager tragically took her own life – after being groomed and molested by a paedophile she had been manipulated into believing was her boyfriend. Her mum is now calling for a change in the law to give justice to victims like Carris.

Carris Taylor and her heartbroken mum Sharon Baker Credit: Sharon Baker Carris took her own life, aged 16, in April Credit: Sharon Baker Paedo Oliver Beck, 26, was jailed last year Credit: Warwickshire Police Carris’ family have been left devastated by her sudden death Credit: Sharon Baker

Twisted abuser Oliver Beck, 26, was convicted of three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and jailed for four years in May 2025 – having begun “relentlessly grooming” Carris, from Nuneaton, , when she was just 14.

But having served several months on remand before his conviction – and with him expected to only serve half his sentence inside and the rest on licence – he is set for release.

The abuse led to a rift between Carris and her family, with cops having to pursue a “victimless” prosecution as the teen refused to testify against Beck.

Now her heartbroken mum is calling for a change in the law to hold abuser responsible if their victims take their own lives.

Sharon Baker said Carris had “gone off the rails” in the aftermath of the conviction but appeared to be piecing herself back together – completing her , starting college and making plans to join the .

“She began to rebuild her life,” mum-of-six Sharon told The Sun.

“But then the darkness returned. She slipped back into and , lost the small she had, and began struggling again.

“We now believe she simply couldn’t cope.”

Sharon described her daughter as ‘vibrant’ before the abuse Credit: Sharon Baker The troubled teen had turned to drink and drugs Credit: Sharon Baker

Carris took her own life on Sunday April 19, aged just 16, and her body was found by an off-duty policeman.

Sharon recalled two officers arriving at her door that morning.

Carris was often reported as missing in the troubled couple of years before her death – the family had got to know the local officers, even chatting jovially with them on the doorstep.

But Sharon didn’t recognise these two and, unusually, they asked if they could come in.

“As soon as they told me to sit down, I collapsed,” Sharon, 43, said. “I knew.”

She thought back to the Friday before, when she’d last seen Carris, who’d hugged her and her stepdad Dave.

Whilst being groomed and abused by Beck, the teenager had grown distant from her loved ones and had eventually gone to live with a foster family.

However, following his conviction, she’d started to rekindle the relationship with her family and had discussed moving back home.

Beck is due for release this year Credit: WARWICKSHIRE POLICE Sharon says her daughter was let down by the system and wants a law change Credit: Sharon Baker

Referring to that final meeting, Sharon said: “At the time, it didn’t register but now we’re thinking back, she hugged us really tight.

“And then she said to us, ‘I might be back later, Mum.’ And I was like, ‘alright then, bab’.

“That was obviously the last time I saw her.”

She said she replays that evening “every single day”. Carris had turned up out of the blue – and now Sharon believes she’d been planning her suicide for weeks and that was her goodbye.

“I wished I’d have held her tighter,” explained the grieving mum, holding back tears.

“My husband says he wished he’d have locked the door and not let her go.

“There’s so many ‘what ifs’ – what if we’d have done this and what if we’d have done that.

“We could spend the rest of our lives torturing ourselves.”

Sharon said Carris was always vulnerable as a child but had big plans as she appeared to be recovering Credit: Sharon Baker Heartbreaking floral tributes left for Carris Credit: Sharon Baker

Sharon said she was taken to Warwick Hospital where she waited seven hours before she could say goodbye to her daughter.

In her grief-stricken state, she also contacted the Beck was at the week Carris died.

She claimed to be a friend of his and wanted to let him know of a bereavement.

“I wanted to actually listen to his voice when I told him she’d gone,” Sharon explained. “But I couldn’t.”

The call handler went through his approved contact list and refused to put the call through.

“I needed something to blame at that exact point in time,” she said.

Asked if she believed Carris still saw Beck as her boyfriend or if she’d feared seeing him again, Sharon said: “She didn’t show us any emotions at all about it – that was the kind of girl she was.

“She was so closed up with no emotions.”

Cops had pursued an “evidence-led prosecution” as Carris had not been willing to speak against him.

Speaking following Beck’s sentencing at Warwick Crown Court on May 2 last year, Det Sgt Dan Lydster said: “Beck groomed his victim relentlessly and, as with most predators, he would have hoped that his manipulation would prevent him from ever being held to account.

“It was clear to us that Beck is a danger to young girls and we took the decision to pursue a victimless prosecution.

“We will continue to do everything in our power to protect Warwickshire’s children from predators like Beck.”

But Sharon has accused both Warwickshire police and social services of failing to protect her daughter from Beck, and said little support was provided for her deteriorating mental health following his conviction.

She said she warned cops about the inappropriate relationship but “I wasn’t listened to”, adding: “While in care, she was given no support, no counselling, despite my constant pleas.

“The whole system has killed her.”

She added: “My daughter was once a vibrant, happy, carefree girl who didn’t worry about what others thought of her.

“He turned her into someone I barely recognised. I tried again and again to help her but he had manipulated her deeply.”

She is now petitioning for the Government to charge sex offenders with manslaughter if their victim subsequently takes their own life.

“Carris was manipulated by a man who took everything from her – her safety, her trust, her childhood and eventually her life,” said Sharon.

“Even if it saves just one life, if it helps just one family, if it stops them from going through what we are going through, it will be worth it.

“Something good has to come of this. I know that Carris would want me to do this.”

Warwickshire County Council said: “A rapid review was undertaken following the deeply tragic death of this young person.

“We recognise that their background and circumstances were varied and complex and a range of help and support was offered.

“While we are unable to comment on specific details, our thoughts are with the young person’s family, friends, and all those affected by this heartbreaking loss.”

Warwickshire Police said: “We’d like to offer our deepest condolences to Carris’ family.

“At the time, we carried out a full and comprehensive investigation into the allegations outlined – acting on all the information and reports available.

“As a consequence, the offender was charged and remanded.

“The case was brought before court, where he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

“We are not aware of a formal complaint, however, if there are any concerns about how the investigation was handled, we would encourage this to be raised through our complaints process to allow the matter to be carefully reviewed and any learning identified.

“Our thoughts remain with Sharon and her family at this challenging time.”

A Government spokesperson said: “This is a devastating case, and our thoughts remain with Carris Taylor’s loved ones.

“Sexual abuse causes profound and lasting harm and punishment must reflect the severity of these vile crimes.

“Our new VAWG strategy will bear further down on heinous abusers while a further £550m in victim support services will help brave survivors get justice.”

Manslaughter can apply in cases where a person’s unlawful conduct causes another’s death. It is also an offence under section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961 do an act capable of encouraging or assisting suicide.

The Law Commission is reviewing homicide law, including the use of manslaughter offences where abuse may have driven someone to suicide.

The Government published its Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, ‘Freedom from Violence and Abuse’, in December, setting out a ten-year mission to halve VAWG and ensure victims are better supported to access justice and recover.

As part of this strategy, the Deputy Prime Minister also announced in December that £550 million will be invested over the next three years into vital support services to help victims and witnesses through the justice process.

To view Carris’ petition click here.