No criminal charges will follow the death of widow Gloria Foster, who was left to starve in her home earlier this year.

But a friend has said she will not rest until someone "holds their hands up" over the Banstead woman's death, which happened after she was left to starve for nine days in January.

Mrs Foster, 81, depended on daily carer visits for food, water and medication but she was left alone for nine days after the agency contracted to look after her, Sutton-based Carefirst 24, was shut down by immigration police on January 15.

Mrs Foster, of Priory Court in Chipstead Road, was found in a critical condition and died in Epsom Hospital on February 4.

Carefirst 24 was contracted to look after Mrs Foster through Surrey Council.
Sutton and Surrey councils, which both worked with Carefirst 24, were informed of the raid in advance and told to seek alternative arrangements for patients - but Mrs Foster slipped through the net.

Surrey police launched an investigation but announced it would not press charges lanst week.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Preston, said: "We have received advice from the Crown Prosecution Service and we have determined no criminal charges can be brought in relation to this case.

"The friends and family of Mrs Foster have been updated as to the results of our investigation and we will share our findings with Surrey County Council to assist them in ensuring that the circumstances of Mrs Foster’s tragic death are never replicated."

Close friend Ann Penston, from Sutton, said she was "surprised" by the news. She added: "I think someone should hold their hands up over this. I'm not looking for a scalp, I just think it's important someone is held accountable to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else.

"I'm not legally trained but, as a lay person, I'm surprised but we'll just have to accept it as it is at the moment. That doesn't mean we aren't looking at what options we can pursue, but we want to give Surrey County Council the chance to come forward."

The Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board, made up of representatives including the council, and the police, is continuing its separate investigation into Mrs Foster's death.

A Surrey County Council spokesman said: "Now the police inquiry has ended, an independent investigator appointed in February will complete a review of the actions of all the agencies involved. The findings of the report will be published within months."