A MUM whose son died at a mental health trust now facing prosecution for serious failings has demanded a public inquiry in an open letter to the Government.

Melanie Leahy’s 20-year-old son, a former Westcliff High School for Boys pupil, was found hanging at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford in 2012.

The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust responsible for the site is now being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive over safety failings.

A petition for an inquiry has now reached 105,580, which should trigger a Parliamentary debate.

Mrs Leahy, from Colchester, penned the letter calling for Statutory Public Inquiry following a meeting with Catherine McKinnell MP, chairman of the Parliamentary Petitions Committee.

She said: “We are not talking about negligent care here, but active, systemic and ongoing gross neglect and abuse of the vulnerable.

“There is something insidious and rotten in Essex mental healthcare services, both across its inpatient facilities and in care being provided in the community, and it must be exposed and stopped.”

Lawyers revealed a total of 24 families have come forward to tell their stories of “appalling patient abuse” since the petition was launched.

Hodge Jones and Allen solicitors, the London-based social justice law firm, leading the campaign with Mrs Leahy said the search for additional families would continue, with those behind the campaign encouraging people who have lost loved ones either to inpatient or community deaths, or individuals themselves who have been failed and survived, to make themselves known.

Nina Ali, partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, said: “There is evidence of ongoing exploitation and abuse within Essex mental health services which have led to unexplained deaths, people taking their own lives, and injured parties traumatised for life.”

On Tuesday, the Health & Safety Executive, launched its own prosecution against the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust for how the North Essex Partnership Trust managed environmental risks from fixed potential ligature points in its inpatient wards between October 25, 2004 and 31 March31 2015.

A first hearing is due to take place on November 12 at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.

Southend West MP Sir David Amess said: “The House of Commons authorities have reopened Westminster Hall for debates from this coming Monday. I will take a very close interest in when this petition is scheduled for debate.”