Royal blackmailer took lethal drug cocktail

A SOCIALITE who tried to blackmail the Royal family over an alleged gay sex scandal killed himself by taking a cocktail of drugs, an inquest heard.

Ian Strachan, 40, was found dead on Christmas Eve hours after seeing his mother at his flat in Marylebone, London, Westminster Coroner’s Court was told. Mr Strachan, who claimed to be friends with Princes Harry and William, had registered to three separate practices, two GPS and a private clinic to feed his prescription drug habit. His real name was Paul Adalsteinsson, but he used different names – including Paul Stein – to obtain a variety of prescription drugs which he popped “like sweets,” the inquest heard.

He had to have his left leg amputated following a 30ft fall from a balcony in 2013, when he also shattered his pelvis, and was visiting numerous hospitals – including Chelsea and Westminster and St Thomas’ – for surgery. Strachan was jailed for five years in 2008 after a £50,000 gay sex blackmail plot against a member of the Royal family, but only served half his sentence.

While in Dubai in 2015 a row erupted with authorities over a crashed Audi R8 and he spent 10 months in the Gulf country before making an escape via Iran, he told his GP.

Last year, he suffered two heart attacks induced by his heavy cocaine usage, the court heard.