The Priory Group, a private mental healthcare company, has been fined £300,000 for breaching health and safety law after a 14-year-old girl died in its care.

A criminal investigation was launched by the Health and Safety Executive after the death of Amy El-Keria, who was found dead at Ticehurst House psychiatric hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, in 2012.

The Priory Group indicated a guilty plea after being charged under health and safety legislation with being an employer failing to discharge its duty to ensure people were not exposed to risk.

The company was fined £300,000 at Lewes Crown Court today. Prosecutors had previously warned the penalty could be as much as £2.4 million.

Sentencing, Judge Mr Justice James Dingemans said: "It is obvious that any penalty I impose can never reflect the loss suffered by Amy's family in this case.

"Amy's mother, when giving her victim impact statement, said that she hoped that lessons would be learned from this tragedy.

"It is apparent from the investigations that have been carried out in Amy's death, and the works carried out by Priory Healthcare and the CQC, that there is now a much better understanding of young person suicide, and that vital lessons have been learned."