A MUM who “couldn’t live without her kids” tragically took her own life at her friend’s home during a custody battle, an inquest heard.
Nika Bittova, 44, was terrified that cops would arrest her during her job on the cosmetics counter at a branch of .
Nika Bittova tragically took her own life at her pal’s home, an inquest heard Credit: Instagram/NikaBittova
The inquest was told the mum ‘couldn’t live without her kids’ Credit: Facebook/NikaBittova
The mum-of-three had seen a doctor about her low mood and told him: “I don’t want medication. I just want to see my children.”
A friend had also contacted her out of fears Nika “couldn’t go on living without them”.
She had been staying with her friend Laura Dielhenn after her 16-year relationship with the father of her children had broken down, the court heard.
Laura heartbreakingly found her friend lifeless at her home in Earley, , on August 3 last year.
The mum-of-three was amidst a custody battle when she died, an inquest heard Credit: Instagram/NikaBittova
Nika had worked at a cosmetics counter in John Lewis, a coroner’s court heard Credit: Instagram/NikaBittova
An inquest at Coroner’s Court heard that Laura had been worried about her friend, who had told her the day before she was afraid the ongoing custody battle meant would arrest her during her shift.
Although she had tried to reassure her that cops were unlikely to get involved in a family court case, Nika remained concerned.
At around 2am on August 3, Laura awoke to tend to her four-month-old baby and noticed the light was on in the room Nika was staying in.
When she went to at around 4am, she noted the light was off.
Laura woke up at about 8am and an hour later knocked on her friend’s door to ask her if she wanted a cup of tea, but she got no answer and searched the house for her.
She rang Nika’s phone and heard it ringing in her room, where she sadly found her dead.
Police rushed to the home but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 44-year-old, who was originally from the , had worked as a sales representative at the Reading branch of John Lewis since November 2009.
She had been in a relationship with Michael Tiplady for 16 years, but the couple had split up and were amidst a custody battle, the coroner’s court heard.
The inquest was told Nika had not been able to see her family due to a court order.
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org , 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org , 116 123
It was also heard she had breached the conditions of her court order after visiting her daughter’s school in late 2024.
The mum-of-three had been staying with her friend Laura Dielhenn since January 2025 and had seen her doctor about low mood and anxiety.
In May 2025, she told a GP: “I don’t want medication. I just want to see my children.”
A friend had also contacted her doctor’s surgery to express concern after she had spoken about taking her own life.
She was recommended for counselling by her doctor, but the local talking therapy team declined her request because she was already seeing a counsellor through a local mental , the court heard.
In a tribute, Nika’s friend April Slater, said: “She was a brilliant, caring, girl and a great salesperson. She loved her children.
“She wanted to be back home with them. I saw how she had changed from the smiling, happy, girl she was.
“Nika felt she couldn’t go on living without them; without her children, there was no way out.”
Coroner Ian Wade said: “This is a sad and tragic death.
“I want to extend my sympathies and condolences to everyone who loved and cared for her.
“I would hope that anyone and everyone who has the opportunity to look after her children will make sure they continue to love their mother.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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