STEWART: DAD-OF-THREE OVERDOSED ON PAINKILLERS
A father-of-three died from an overdose of prescription painkillers after battling with addiction and mental health problems, an inquest was told.
Shane Stewart, 44, was found dead in bed on June 8 at the flat he shared with his brother in Battersea, south west London.
He had been there since 10.30pm the previous evening, when he went to sleep after spending the evening with a sister who lived in the same housing block.
A post-mortem revealed toxic levels of painkillers codeine and dihydrocodeine in his blood, Westminster Coroner’s Court was told.
Packets of the pills, which were not prescribed by his GP, had been found by police in the flat in Selworthy House, Battersea Church Road.
Recording an open verdict, inner west London coroner Fiona Wilcox said she could not be certain whether Mr Stewart had intended to take his own life.
She said: ‘He had a very long history of psychiatric problems dating back to his youth, perhaps to his troubled childhood.
‘For many years he attempted to control his problems by using drugs and alcohol, but this appears to have made things worse for him rather than better.
Originally from Bulowayo, Zimbabwe, Mr Stewart had moved to South Africa at the age of 14 and later emigrated to London after the failure of his marriage.
Ms Willcox added: ‘Things hadn’t gone well for him in London – he missed South Africa and continued to have problems with his mood.
‘To reach the level of dihydrocodeine found in his blood he would have involved taking a substantial number of tablets.
‘I am not satisfied that he took this path accidentally, so I will have to record an open verdict.’
Verdict: open
Ends
