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Gaia Pope, 19 (pictured) was last seen near her home in Swanage on November 7 and was found frozen to death on a nearby clifftop 11 days later

The Police watchdog has launched an investigation into the handling of a rape claim made by missing teenager Gaia Pope before she was found dead last year.

Gaia, 19, was last seen near her home in Swanage on November 7 and was found frozen to death on a nearby clifftop 11 days later.

Dorset Police is already being probed over its investigation into her disappearance, which saw three innocent family friends wrongly arrested.

But now the Independent Office for Police Conduct is looking into the force's failure to deal with a rape claim Gaia lodged in December 2015.

Her family and friends insist she was distraught in the days leading up to her death because a man she claimed raped her was soon to be released from prison. 

Two days before going missing, she posted a screenshot of texts she had sent on Instagram, which read: 'Police are into my phone I think. I'm gonna have to put it down til Wednesday... Or I'll get a real shutup and be put in a cell myself.'

She captioned the post with the hashtag: '#sexualassault'. 

The alleged perpetrator of the attack had been jailed for an unrelated offence, but Gaia feared he could shortly be released, adding to the anxiety caused by her severe epilepsy.

Speaking previously her father Richard Sutherland said: 'She was involved in a situation where some guys sexually assaulted her. 

Dorset Police is already being probed over its investigation into her disappearance (missing persons flyer pictured), which saw three innocent family friends wrongly arrested

'This had a really devastating effect on her. I think this had been coming back into her head. She was scared'.

Her mother, Natasha Pope, said: 'There is no doubt in my mind: this is what drove Gaia up the hill that night. 

'I am relieved that, at last, it will be properly investigated and I am resolved to see positive change.

'It was not her intention but, in a way, my daughter gave her life to shine a light on all this.'

In February, the opening of an inquest heard that she died from hypothermia, and Dorset Coroner Rachael Griffin ordered statements from various organisations, including Dorset social services, Dorset Police, the local hospital trust and her GP. 

A spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct said: 'We have begun an investigation into the Dorset Police response to an allegation of rape made by Gaia Pope-Sutherland prior to her death.

'Miss Pope-Sutherland, aged 19, was found dead on 18 November 2017 after being reported missing from Swanage by a family member 11 days earlier.

'This new investigation follows a referral from Dorset Police after Miss Pope-Sutherland's family made a complaint in May about the force's handling of the rape allegation Miss Pope-Sutherland made in December 2015.'

Catrin Evans, the IOPC Director with responsibility for Dorset Police, added: 'After initial investigation, in June 2016 Dorset Police made the decision to take no further action in respect of a rape allegation made by Gaia.

Hundreds of people got involved in the search for Gaia on the Dorset coast (pictured last year)

'Following complaints made by her family, we will investigate whether the police response was in accordance with local and national policies and guidance in relation to the investigation of rape cases, including Crown Prosecution Service referral and charging criteria.

'My thoughts continue to be with Gaia's family and everyone affected by her death.'

'Our first investigation, which began in April, is focssed on Dorset Police's handling of the missing person report made in respect of Miss Pope-Sutherland.

But now the Independent Office for Police Conduct is looking into the force's failure to deal with a rape claim Gaia (pictured) lodged in December 2015

'This investigation is ongoing and we continue to keep Miss Pope-Sutherland's family, the Coroner and Dorset Police informed of our progress.'

Gaia's cousin today claimed that it was the police that advised Gaia not to take her complaint of rape any further.

Marienna Pope-Weidemann said the impact of the investigation being dropped had a traumatic effect on Gaia's state of mind.

Miss Pope-Weidemann said: 'Gaia wanted to go to the police once she found the courage to speak out about what had happened to her.

'She felt the responsibility very heavily of 'what if he does something to someone else and I didn't speak'. She wanted to help protect other people as well as get justice for herself.

'The police told her because of the time that had passed - it was almost a year to the day after it happened that she reported it - and the lack of physical evidence that they didn't think she would get a conviction.

'They explained what it would be like being cross-examined in court and strongly advised her not to take it any further.

'Gaia was made to feel like it was pointless to push it.

'The experience of reliving it through the police interview was so traumatic and when they said they wouldn't take it further it completely took the wind out of her sails.

'There were so many organisations that had an obligation to protect her and if just one of those things had worked she probably would have been okay.

Gaia is pictured on CCTV footage from a petrol station before she disappeared in November 

'Her epilepsy got a lot worse because of the trauma, she was afraid to even go on public transport on her own.

'From when it happened onwards her entire life was defined by this struggle, she was terrified.

'Gaia would be okay one minute and then something would trigger it and she would be in fear of her life, like someone with PTSD.

'Gaia had an appointment on the day she went missing. She had been sent indecent images by a guy on Facebook.

'It would be distressing for anyone but it was particularly distressing for her and she worried there might be a connection with what had happened to her.

'I try not to think about it too much but I worry that is what she was feeling on the day she went missing.'

Miss Pope-Weidemann said the family are relieved the police watchdog is now looking into the way Gaia's complaint was dealt with.

She added: 'This feels like a first little victory for us. She shouldn't have had to go through what she went through so alone. We want to see something changed.

'Gaia really believed in pushing for progress so we feel this is the best way to honour her now.' 

Harriet Wistrich, of law firm Birnberg Peirce, representing the family, added: 'Gaia's death illustrates the severe mental health impact not only of sexual violence but also of investigative failures by the police.' 

The investigation into the force's handling of her disappearance was launched earlier this year. 

Rosemary Dinch, 71, her son Paul Elsey, 49, and grandson Nathan Elsey, 19, were arrested on suspicion of murder six days into the search, before being released without charge.