Troubled grandad ‘was not himself’ after jail release
43-year-old fighting butane gas addiction
A grandfather found hanged in Maidstone town centre had been released from prison a month before his death.
Sammy Draper was discovered near Sainsbury’s supermarket in Romney Place on July 15. On Monday, an inquest at the Archbishop’s Palace heard the father-of-four had been referred to the Change Grow Live rehabilitation charity to address his addiction to butane.
His body was found hanging and clutching a can of drink in woodland off Romney Place, with cylinders of the lighter gas in his pocket, up his sleeve and next to his body.
His daughter Abbie Draper told the coroner: “He wasn’t himself after he left prison.
“He didn’t tell me what happened while in there but I knew he wasn’t himself. He had lost his way and there was no help for him. The probation service was meant to help him but as usual they let him down.” Evidence showed Mr Draper, from Maidstone, had been attending probation meetings since his release and officers had accompanied him to the GP to address mental health concerns. At the meeting it was agreed to increase Mr Draper’s anti-depressant dosage, however he told his doctor he had no suicidal thoughts as he was focussed on rebuilding his relationship with his children and grandchildren. The coroner heard Mr Draper had struggled following the death of his father in 2016.
But addiction and mental health problems could be traced back as early as 2003.
Two days before his death Mr Draper made a rare visit to his father’s grave.
Mr Draper’s sister, Tina Hilden, said: “Our father was our family’s glue, our everything. When he died Sammy was in prison, I don’t think he ever really grieved him.” A toxicology report revealed Mr Draper had butane and amphetamine in his system when he died.
As no suicide note was found, assistant coroner Eileen Sproson returned a narrative conclusion. She said: “Mr Draper died by hanging, contributed by having inhaled butane gas before his death.”
Abbie, 25, paid tribute to her “wonderful and bubbly” father following his death, adding: “He always had a smile on his face. “He’d help absolutely anyone he could - if he only had 50p on him but somebody else needed it, he’d give it to them and leave himself with nothing.”
If you’re struggling, please call Samaritans on 116 123