A DRUG death — originally treated as homicide — killed addict Leon Wayne Glasspool.

An inquest, held last Tuesday, heard there was a question over who administered the fatal dose, but no evidence was found that anyone else was responsible.

His family believe Leon's gold chain was robbed from his neck around the time of his death, and they released a photo of him wearing the jewellery, in the hope someone will hand it in.

At the inquest, DS Colin Lynch said there would be no questions asked, if the chain is handed in to police.

Leon, an unemployed man of 31, lived at Angelica Grove, Newport, and died on November 11, 2018.

He had long-term issues with drug use, alcohol dependency, and an addiction to benzodiazepine.

Additionally he had ADHD, poor mental health, and had previously attempted to stab himself in the chest with a bread knife.

He was found unresponsive at a friend's home on Drill Hall Road, Newport, after taking heroin and Xanax, and died later at St Mary's Hospital.

There was some suggestion he was unable to inject himself and had asked a friend to do it for him, which led to the question over who administered the drugs that killed him.

One friend was arrested, but there was a lack of evidence available, and no signs of drug paraphernalia around the body.

There had been a delay in contacting the emergency services, which Coroner Caroline Sumeray said led to 'ample opportunity to destroy drug-taking evidence'.

She requested a Home Office post mortem — a further forensic test to look for signs of foul play.

She said the hospital should have recognised it as a drug-related death and called police in sooner.

A change in policy has since taken place, to request police attendance in relation to drug deaths.

She said: "As soon as it appeared it could have been homicide it was treated as homicide, but there was no evidence for a criminal case."

The combined effects of heroin and Xanax was the cause of death.

Mrs Sumeray said taking drugs like heroin came with a risk of contaminates.

"You take a risk every time, it's like playing Russian roulette.

"The only conclusion I can make is that it was a drug related death."

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