A woman who was found dead in a car boot in Ilford was under the protection of a domestic violence protection order.

Harshita Brella, 24, was found inside the boot of a car parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford, in the early hours of Thursday (November 14).

The body was found after Northamptonshire Police was contacted on Wednesday (November 13) by a member of the public regarding the concern for the welfare of a woman in Corby, Northampton.

Officers were deployed to her home address in Skegness Walk and there was no answer, which launched a missing person investigation.

Eventually enquiries led officers to the parked car in Ilford, where her body was found.

The force previously said that it made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contact between the force and the victim.

According to the Northamptonshire Telegraph, Harshita was previously the victim of domestic violence.

In early September, a 28-day order was placed to ban the perpetrator of the violence from visiting her workplace.

The paper reported: “He was prevented from molesting her, from threatening violence, or intimidating, harassing or pestering her. He was also told not to encourage or instruct others to contact her in any way.”

Northamptonshire Police revealed yesterday that the force believes Harshita was attacked by someone known to her.

It added here is no wider risk to the public, however extra patrols will be taking place in Corby in the coming days for reassurance purposes.

Anyone who has any information that could help detectives bring Harshita’s killer to justice, is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 24000678713.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.