A talented and internationally published PHD student killed herself after prosecutors refused to charge a man she accused of rape, an inquest has heard.
Josie Jolley, 25, was told a jury would not believe her story because she held hands with her alleged attacker, 'undermining' a potential case.
Ms Jolley, described as extremely bright, was found dead at her home in Brighton, on Tuesday, September 8, last year after taking a fatal dose of her mother's morphine medication.
She spent the night of September 7 alone because her mother was having treatment in hospital.
When her mother Jacqueline couldn't get hold of Ms Jolley she asked her two friends to check on her.
There was no answer when they shouted through the window on the evening of September 8 and when they went inside they found her unresponsive in bed.
The inquest at Brighton Coroner's Court on Wednesday heard that in December 2019, Ms Jolley reported that she had been raped.
Josie Jolley (pictured), 25, was told a jury would not believe her story because she held hands with her alleged attacker, 'undermining' a potential case
Sussex Police referred the case to the Metropolitan Police, who concluded it should be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), but the decision was made not to take the case to court.
DI James Meanwell of Sussex Police said CCTV footage from the evening showed Ms Jolley holding hands with her alleged rapist, which would 'undermine' a prosecution case.
He said: 'Often it's one person's word against another's. The burden of proof is quite high in criminal court and that's where the issue is.
'Josie was interviewed on January 14 last year. In this case she was saying it was non-consensual and the suspect was saying it was consensual. They had met for the first time that evening.
'There was CCTV footage from the location, but no footage from the actual area of the offence.
'There was CCTV footage of them holding hands, which would be undermining for a prosecution to take place.'
Senior coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said: 'Josie agreed that when she had originally met this person he had offered her a massage.
'But then she says he wanted more and when she refused, he assaulted and raped her. He says it was consensual.
'Officers would have been satisfied there was enough evidence to charge and secure a conviction for it to be passed to the CPS in the first place, but ultimately it comes down to the CPS.
'Simply because the CPS did not find it met grounds for prosecution it does not mean to say it did not happen. It was obviously still playing on her mind.'
Speaking at the inquest, Ms Jolley's mother said they had discussed whether or not she should appeal against the decision, but Ms Jolley felt 'it would only be more delay'.
Ms Jolley, who had studied in the geography department at the University of Sussex since beginning her undergraduate degree in 2014, had previously been in a relationship with one of her PhD supervisors, but this had ended in July 2019, the court heard.
One of Ms Jolley's oldest friends, Ruby, told the inquest: 'The break-up was something she had processed. The attack happened and I don't think it was something she could get over.
'But I do feel she was someone who could take negative things and apply them to life in a positive way. She was incredibly strong and outgoing.'
Ms Jolley had been referred to the Brighton and Hove Wellbeing Service for talking therapy after attending the Saturn Centre Sexual Assault Referral Centre and
