James Layley, who lived in Newbury and Thatcham, died from cocaine toxicity, inquest hears
A man has died from cocaine poisoning.
James Layley was found with a ‘crack’ cocaine pipe lying nearby in his flat in London Road, Newbury, an inquest in Reading Town Hall was told on Thursday (June 6).
In the run-up to his death the 38-year-old, who previously lived in Thatcham, had been self medicating his low mood with the Class A-controlled stimulant as well as the powerful opioid, morphine.
A West Berkshire Council housing officer alerted police when he could not reach Mr Layley by phone or text and Mr Layley’s girlfriend, Chantelle Stroud, reported she had not seen or heard from him in days, the inquest heard.
When a letter through the door went unanswered, the housing officer returned on October 19 last year with a locksmith and gained entry.
Upon seeing Mr Layley was dead and had been for some time, he called police.
An officer who attended said Mr Layley was laying on the bed atop the covers and confirmed: “There were no life-saving opportunities.”
There was a crack pipe and empty alcohol containers nearby, the inquest heard.
Medical records showed Mr Layley, a diabetic, had previously taken overdoses of insulin and had left an undated note which stated: “F*** this world; I’ve gone to join Mum and Dad; much love to my boys… I’m sorry.”
Mr Layley’s GP at Burdwood Surgery in Thatcham said he had a history of drug and alcohol abuse.
He had been in and out of prison for various offences and had been homeless for a while, the inquest heard.
In the days before his death Mr Layley had been admitted to hospital following an insulin overdose but had discharged himself the next day.
Mr Layley had told a drugs and alcohol counsellor he was “sick of living; sick of being treated like s***,” adding: “I’ve got life problems I can’t cope with.”
However post mortem tests revealed that Mr Layley had not died from an insulin overdose, as initially suspected.
Neither was there a significant amount of alcohol in his system at the time of death.
Instead, there was evidence of recent cocaine abuse which, the pathologist said “increased the risk of cardiac arrest”.
The pathologist suggested the cause of death was due to the “cardiotoxic effects of cocaine use”, leading to a “fatal cardiac arrhythmia”.
Assistant Berkshire coroner Robert Simpson acknowledged the note found beside the bed which “clearly indicated he intended to take his own life by insulin overdose”.
However, he pointed out, “the note was not dated”.
In addition, medical evidence did not support the overdose scenario, ruled Mr Simpson.
Instead, death was due to the effects of cocaine on his heart, he said.
Mr Simpson recorded a conclusion that Mr Layley died a “drug-related death”.
Anyone seeking support can contact the following organisations:
Eight Bells for Mental Health: www.eightbellsnewbury.co.uk – call 07387 962220 – email coordinator@eightbellsnewbury.co.uk
You can visit www.recoveryinmind.org and find a number of resources to help you look after your mental health.
Mental Health Crisis Team – call if you need urgent help, but it’s not an emergency 0300 365 0300 or 0300 365 9999
Sane Line – www.sane.org.uk – call 0300 304 7000
Childline: www.childline.org.uk – 0800 1111
Mind: www.mind.org.uk – 0300 123 3393 or text 86463
The Samaritans: www.samaritans.org – call 116 123 – email jo@samaritans.org
