Man, 75, died after drug binge

WHAT police first suspected to be a murder case in Oldham, turned out to be misadventure by a drug addict.

An inquest at Oldham Magistrates’ Court heard how Alan Ryall (75) died after bingeing on heroin and cocaine at a friend’s house in Belgrave Road, Hathershaw.

The former Oxford University student-turned-male prostitute, from Radcliffe, was found dead under the duvet in the bed of his friend, Jacqueline Vogan-Lee in May 2009.

They had spent the previous evening chatting and Miss Vogan-Lee had left the house to go to work in the morning, but returned home to find him dead the following evening.

The court heard how Mr Ryall smoked crack cocaine and took heroin suppositories. Toxicologist Brian Johnson said he found fatal amounts of morphine and substances found in street heroin present in Mr Ryall’s blood, along with cocaine. He believed Mr Ryall died within three hours of taking heroin.

While police were searching the property, Miss Vogan-Lee found a syringe wrapped in tissue. A police officer heard something drop into the sink and Miss Vogan-Lee had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Det Sgt Lindsey Curry told the court there was no suggestion the drugs had been taken involuntarily and no court proceedings are taking place.

Coroner Simon Nelson gave a verdict of misadventure caused by heroin and cocaine toxicity, with high blood pressure and heart disease as contributory factors.

He said: “I am satisfied that the ingestion of drugs was a voluntary and deliberate act. There is no evidence to say he intended to kill himself and his death would have been wholly unexpected.”