SUSSEX's mental health services could face prosecution following the brutal death of a patient who escaped from their care

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after Janet Müller absconded from Mill View Hospital in Hove, before being burned in the boot of a car by Christopher Jeffrey-Shaw.

The inquiries may result in a prosecution in the criminal courts.

On Wednesday Janet's mother Ramona exclusively told The Argus how they felt betrayed by the trust as they apologised for failing's in Janet's care.

Charlotte Haworth Hird, of Bindmans LLP who is representing the family, said: "The family has referred the case to the HSE and we await the outcome of the inquiries to see what happens next."

An HSE spokeswoman said: "HSE's investigation into this incident is ongoing..

In 2016 an independent review of 10 killings involving patients cared for by the trust found it did not always learn from its mistakes and sometimes "severely underestimated" risks.

Last month it was rated as having the second highest number of serious incidents in the country between 2016 and 2017.