AN INQUEST has opened into the death of a woman detained in a cell at York Police Station almost four and a half years ago.

A jury was yesterday given a resumé of the circumstances surrounding Toni Speck's death in June 2011 before viewing extensive CCTV footage of her final hours.

The inquest, held in the Guildhall chamber and attended by members of Toni's family as well as representatives of organisations including North Yorkshire Police and NHS England, heard that Toni died after being detained under the Mental Health Act.

York's senior acting coroner Jonathan Leach said the 31-year-old from Huntington had a history of mental health difficulties and first used mental health services when she was 17, following an overdose. She was diagnosed in 2006 as suffering from bipolar affective disorder and received treatment at Bootham Park Hospital.

On the afternoon of June 2, 2011, her brother saw her in the street in Bootham, crying and talking to herself. He saw police officers in a parked van, and went over to them, and told them she was 'going mad' and was a danger to herself and others.

The officers approached her, and she got into the passenger seat of a car in stationary traffic but then jumped out. She was physically restrained and placed in the van and taken to the police station in Fulford Road, where a number of officers had to restrain her and she was taken to a cell, where at one stage she removed her clothing.

She was observed at 30 minute intervals and at 6pm it was realised she had been taken ill and attempts were made to resuscitate her, which continued after she was taken to York Hospital, but efforts were in vain.

Mr Leach said two post mortems had been conducted by pathologists, the first of which had concluded that she had died through 'excited delirium', while the second had concluded she died because of 'serotonin syndrome.'

He said the jury would hear the view of a doctor that had Toni received proper medical attention by 5pm, her death could have been prevented.

He said the CCTV footage, which was shown to the jury in private, showed Toni being detained in Bootham, arriving at York police station and then three hours showing her in the cell.

The inquest, which is expected to last three weeks, was set to continue today.