A convict took a lethal dose of heroin after losin

A convict took a lethal dose of heroin after losing his tolerance to the deadly drug in prison, an inquest heard.

Glasgow-born James Quinn, 29, was sleeping on a friend’s sofa after he came out of jail a week and a half before his death.

His body was discovered by his former girlfriend Anne Hill in the morning of 29 July this year.

Miss Hill, who lived at Acre Lane, Brixton, was too distressed to attend the inquest at Southwark Coroner’s Court.

She said in a statement that Mr Quinn came to stay at her flat in (66) Acre Lane, Brixton, south London, after four months in Wandsworth prison.

Mr Quinn was an alcoholic as well as a heroin user, and would drink 15 cans of strong lager a day.

Miss Hill and her flatmate Michelle McGhee, also originally from Glasgow, had been watching television with Mr Quinn on 28 July, the evening before his death.

Mr Quinn fell asleep on the sofa at around 9.

30pm but
woke up an hour later, and the trio stayed up chatting until the small hours.

‘By this time James had drunk three cans and was sleepy.

We stayed up until 3.

30am when we all decided to go to bed,’ Miss Hill said.

‘James was in his boxer shorts and had cushions on the floor.

He was trying to go to sleep and was shouting to me and Michelle to stop talking.

‘

The two women shared a bed in the studio flat.

‘I next woke up at 12 noon.

I went out to the kitchen to get a drink.

James was lying on his side facing the window wrapped in a green sheet,’ Miss Hill
continued.

‘I saw his back was purple and felt him.

He was freezing cold.

Michelle came out and said he’s dead.

‘

When he was turned round, she saw blood dribbling out of his mouth on to a pillow.

A prison medical officer said Mr Quinn in had deep-vein thrombosis in both legs, and tested positive for Hepatitis C, and was addicted to heroin,
cocaine and valium.

Pathologist Dr Vesna Djurovic said the cause of death was opium intoxication.

Mr Quinn had 0.

83 units of the drug in his blood – just above the level associated with fatalities of 0.

50.

Coroner Selena Lynch said: ‘James Quinn would have lost his tolerance during his recent stay in prison and obviously miscalculated the amount he could
tolerate.

‘

Verdict: Death due to drug dependence.

ends