Mystery over addict death

Martin Stubbs, aged 29, had been a heroin and cocaine addict for more than 10 years and had started using alcohol as a replacement when he tried to come off the drugs.

But neither drugs nor alcohol killed him as toxicology reports showed the levels in his blood were not fatal, particularly for an experienced user.

Deputy coroner Judith Naylor recorded an open verdict because the cause of his death could not be ascertained.

The inquest heard he could have had a heart attack - evidence of which does not always show up at post-mortem examination - or suffered a sudden unexplained death.

Speaking after the verdict his father David, from Gleadless Townend, said: "I do not know what to say - I expected them to say it was a drugs overdose or a combination of the drugs which killed him.

"Maybe he suffered a heart attack a few weeks before - when he overdosed on heroin - and that had made his heart weaker, but we just do not know. It's hard hearing that verdict, but I have to try and move on now - what else can you do?

"It's a positive thing really - he had spoken to me a number of times telling me that he was off the heroin - but he had substituted it with alcohol because he had an addictive personality."

The two day hearing the inquest heard that Martin, of Lupton Road, Low Edges, was found dead at his friend Richard Bingley's house in Firshill Mews, Pitsmoor, where he had spent the previous night.

Now Mr Stubbs is determined to help other people who suffering with drug addictions get over their problems.

He plans to enrol as a volunteer with the Phoenix Futures drugs and alcohol project in Broomhall, to try to save another addict from the same fate as Martin.

He said: "I have got all the experience with Martin, and if I can help to save just one more life, his death won't have been in vain."