UK Inquest Examines Failures in Case of Groomed Teen Charged with Terror Offences

Rhianan Rudd, a 16-year-old groomed by neo-Nazis, died by suicide after being charged despite warnings about her exploitation and vulnerabilities.

Rhianan Rudd, the youngest girl in the UK to face terror charges, was groomed by American white supremacists from the age of 14, an inquest has revealed.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) charged her with terror offences in April 2021, despite being aware of her vulnerabilities and evidence suggesting she was a victim of grooming and exploitation.
The charges were dropped eight months later after a Home Office report identified her as a victim of modern slavery, but the prolonged legal process caused severe anxiety and distress.
Rudd, who had autism and a history of self-harm, died by suicide in May 2022 while in a care home, five months after the charges were discontinued.
The inquest is investigating the actions of the CPS, police, and social services, as well as the impact of her troubled upbringing and exploitation by neo-Nazi figures.