Woman’s death followed ‘tragic miscalculation’

Sister tells inquest heroin-addicted sibling needed better support

A WOMAN died after a ‘tragic miscalculation’ over drugs she took, an inquest heard.

Melanie Pocock, 35, was found dead by a neighbour on her lounge floor at her Spencer Court flat in Merton Road, Southsea, on June 3.

Ms Pocock’s struggles with heroin addiction for much of her adult life — and limited help to curb her demons — was described as ‘tragic’ by her sister Jessica Gant.

Portsmouth Coroner’s Court heard how the mumof-two died as a result of taking a lethal concoction of prescribed and recreational drugs without being aware of the risk.

Methadone, morphine, cocaine and cannabis were found in her system along with prescription drugs for depression and pain relief — none of which were at excessive levels of an overdose.

And with a pathology report revealing her internal condition was ‘fairly normal’, it was concluded the cumulative impact of the drugs resulted in her sudden death.

Coroner Christopher

Wilkinson concluded the death was drugs-related due to a ‘tragic miscalculation’ over the substances taken.

‘It was a terrible mistake in failing to recognise the combined effects of the drugs,’ he said.

The inquest heard how Ms Pocock had a ‘difficult’ upbringing from drug-addict parents before going into care and experimenting with drugs in her early teenage years.

Her mental and physical health were exacerbated as a child after falling 43ft, leaving her with severe pain after breaking her back.

In the April before her death, she also suffered another drop from a balcony, resulting in 17 fractures and losing most of her teeth after falling face first on the ground.

Her drug addiction saw her suffer the devastation of having two children removed from her care — further pushing her along a ‘downward spiral’ which resulted in terms of jail for predominantly low-level crimes.

With her mental health struggles and ‘day-to-day’ chronic pain, Ms Gant told the hearing more could have been done to support her sibling’s mental health.