Redditch woman died after sharing gram of speed with man, inquest hears (From Redditch Advertiser)

Redditch woman died after sharing gram of speed with man, inquest hears

4:50pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News

A REDDITCH woman died after sharing a gram of speed with a man in a Cheltenham flat, an inquest heard.

Pauline Preedy, aged 45, was pronounced dead in the early hours of June 14 last year at Cheltenham General Hospital.

Ms Preedy, of Dolben Lane, Winyates West, had a long history of anxiety, depression and excessive alcohol use, the Gloucester inquest was told.

She had taken amphetamine (speed) and cannabis with David Campbell, a man she had met while undergoing detoxification treatment at a specialist unit in Cheltenham, the inquest heard.

Detective Sergeant Mark Stenhouse said police were called to Mr Campbell’s flat where they found ambulance staff trying to resuscitate Ms Preedy.

She was taken to Cheltenham General Hospital where she was late pronounced dead.

DS Stenhouse said that when interviewed Mr Campbell told officers that Ms Preedy had caught a bus from Redditch for a pre-arranged meeting in Cheltenham. He had bought 1gm of amphetamine for £5 and she had purchased cannabis and they went to his flat to share the drugs.

He told police Ms Preedy had later felt hot and sick, but felt better after drinking a glass of water.

She fell asleep around 7pm and had been snoring. But later Mr Campbell said he noticed she was pale and limp and he immediately dialled 999.

DS Stenhouse said Mr Campbell had been arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled substance and was later formally cautioned.

In a statement, GP Dr Sabarathnam Ananthram said she had suffered emotional stress, anxiety and mood swings. She had sought help for heavy alcohol use and undergone treatment at Cheltenham’s Branchlea Cross unit.

Forensic analysis of blood samples found 0.038mg of amphetamine per decilitre of blood and low levels of prescribed medication. The amphetamine reading was said to be relatively low in the context of amphetamine abuse, said forensic scientist Dr Andrew Love.

Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Andrew Davidson carried out a post mortem examination and said there was no evidence of any trauma or natural disease process that contributed to Ms Preedy’s death.

He said there were changes in her heart that reflected amphetamine use. Dr Davidson said the cause of death was due to brain haemorrhage following administration of amphetamine.

Gloucestershire deputy coroner David Dooley said there was a direct causal link between her deliberate act of taking the drug and the unintended consequence of her death.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.