Heroin killed Telford man after drug delay

David Kenneth Jennings, of Telford, died after taking the illegal drug "out of desperation" when his prescription was held up, his mother told the hearing.

Marcia Shaw said she and her son had enjoyed "six wonderful weeks" while he was taking Pregablin, a drug used for nerve pain but with a relaxant side effect.

But she found her son dead in his bedroom at the home they shared in Deercote, Hollinswood, Telford on March 1.

A post mortem examination showed Mr Jennings had died from pneumonia due to the combined effects of "significant levels" of opiate and diazepam.

The examination found evidence of "recent heroin use" but his Mrs Shaw insisted her son had stopped using heroin regularly.

"As far as I was aware my son hadn't taken heroin regularly since 2012 when he went through the methadone programme," Mrs Shaw told the inquest in Wellington yesterday.

"He had three relapses but he wasn't taking it on a regular basis. I think it was more out of desperation, he had slipped back in his head because the Pregablin was delayed."

Mrs Shaw said she did not wish to blame anyone for her son's death and thanked mental health workers who gave him the medication for the "best six weeks he had in years".

Tim Thomas, a community mental health nurse based at Leonard Street in Oakengates, said he had done everything he could to help Mr Jennings.

Mrs Shaw said: "I know you did. It was the best six weeks he had for years because the Pregablin really suited him. He was so looking forward to everything and I am grateful for those six weeks. I want to say thank you for giving him those six wonderful weeks over Christmas and New Year."

She added: "If he had stayed on it I believe he would have had a much better future."

Alison Blofield, consultant nurse and associate clinical director, apologised for the prescription delay and said she would be looking into what had happened.

Mr John Ellery, coroner for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, returned a verdict of drug-related death.