Hearing into death of mum Sharon Batey after her arrest should take place in summer

But relatives of Sharon Batey fear they may not get the justice they are seeking – after a three-year wait.

Mrs Batey, 41, died in July 2008 after collapsing at Trafalgar House police station in Bradford.

The previous day she had been arrested at her home in Browning Street, Barkerend, on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a child, and kept in custody.

A post-mortem examination found that Mrs Batey, an alcoholic, had died from Acute Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome.

The family was hoping the inquest would take place last year, after an independent report into the death was commissioned by West Yorkshire coroner Roger Whittaker. But the hearing has been delayed while expert medical evidence is gathered.

A pre-inquest hearing took place in Bradford last month.

The family’s solicitor, Ruth Bundey, said a date for the inquest was not set, but it was hoped it would take place in the summer.

She said: “We are very anxious to have it listed and to have a timescale, but, as I said to the coroner, the family would rather have a little more delay and the absolute fullest investigation possible, than rush everything through.”

Mrs Batey’s sister, Yvonne Watson, 40, also a mother-of-three, said she felt frustrated.

“By the time it gets to court it is going to be three years,” she said. “Three years is enough.

“We want closure, and hopefully we will get it this year. If we get justice, the time will be worth it. I hope we will get justice, but I fear we won’t. Whatever happens isn’t going to bring Sharon back.

“The pre-inquest hearing has brought everything back, in the same way that Christmas and Sharon’s birthdays do. I have not been sleeping since the hearing.”

Coroner’s officer Alan Pritchard said a jury inquest would probably be held in the middle of the year. It is expected to last five days.

An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission was carried out following the death .