Mother jumped to death with her baby after losing benefits

A mother jumped to her death, killing herself and her baby son, because her benefits were stopped while she was pregnant, an inquest heard.

Graduate Christelle Pardo, 32, plunged from the balcony of her sister's third-floor flat in Hackney, where she had been staying, while clutching five-month old Kayjah to her chest.

Ms Pardo, from France, had been claiming jobseeker's allowance after leaving London Metropolitan University in May last year after studying philosophy for four years.

She became pregnant at around the same time and was told in December that because she was within 11 weeks of giving birth she could no longer claim the allowance because she was considered unable to work.

Ms Pardo was advised to apply for income support, but her bid was rejected because the Department for Work and Pensions said she had not proved that she had been in continuous employment in the UK for the previous five years. Her housing benefit was also suspended by Hackney borough.

Ms Pardo applied to take the DWP to a tribunal. She repeatedly phoned, asking for a tribunal date. Her last call was on 12 June, the day before her death.

Ms Pardo's sister, Olaya Pardo, told Poplar coroner's court: "She was upset and wanted a date for her tribunal.

"She was stressed about her benefits. She didn't want her son to feel all the stress that she was going through with the paperwork.

"We talked sister to sister and she told me how she was feeling. She said she was upset because she felt that she didn't exist. If it had not been for me she would have been out on the street.

"Going back to France was like going back to another country. She was living here for so many years - this was her country."

Coroner Dr Andrew Reid said Ms Pardo had found herself in a "very parlous situation". He recorded a verdict of suicide for her and unlawful killing for her son.