Back pain led to man’s dependency on drugs

Matthew Hunsley died at home in Winterwell Road, Wath, on July 19 last year.

Doncaster Coroner’s Court heard on Tuesday that the 37-year-old, who was born in Sheffield, had developed a “dependency” on prescription medication and illicit drugs after suffering from a “serious back problem” sustained in a childhood accident.

He also had a history of borderline personality disorder, anxiety and depression.

A postmortem found that Mr Hunsley had coronary atheroma, a serious heart condition which causes a “narrowing of the arteries” as a result of factors such as smoking and a poor diet.

Prof Stephen Morley, clinical lead for clinical and forensic toxicology at University Hospital Leicester, conducted a toxicology report on Mr Hunsley’s body.

He said he had found ten substances in total, including illicit drugs such as methadone and cocaine, but that the drugs were at a “low resting level”.

He also found prescription medication pregabalin and mirtazapine, which were often used for pain relief and to combat anxiety and depression.

David Hunsley (69), Mr Hunsley’s father, confirmed his son had been on a programme to get him off opioids.

Mr Hunsley Snr said he felt his son had been “let down by the health services” and had accidentally overdosed on drugs in the past — adding that he had found life under lockdown restrictions difficult and felt he “couldn’t access the support he needed”.

Despite this, Mr Hunsley had been in good spirits when his father last saw him on July 15.

Mr Hunsley Snr said he had gone to his son’s house four days later after phone calls were not answered and found him dead the the bedroom.

PC Nicola Horsman, who attended the scene, confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances or third party involvement in Mr Hunsley’s death.

Coroner Mrs Louise Slater recorded a conclusion of misadventure. She said Mr Hunsley had not intended to take his life and she had taken into consideration his heart condition, which had played a role in his death.

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