Drug addict found dead in Chester guest house

Jun 11 2008 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

A DRUG addict, found dead in a guest house room from an overdose, “believed someone was after him”.

David Thomas Cawley, 29, was discovered on October 22 last year when the door of his room at Capital Guest House, Hoole Road, Chester was forced open by builders.

Originally from Northwich, Mr Cawley had spent time in Chester where he met his girlfriend Sandra Bailey on the streets in 2005.

Mr Cawley had kicked his heroin habit after a detox programme last April but he continued taking more than the prescribed dose of diazepam.

In Trident House, Little St John Street on Monday, the inquest into Mr Cawley’s death heard from his mother Elsie Cawley, of Malpas Road, Northwich.

She said her son got involved in drugs at 14, first smoking cannabis and eventually injecting heroin.

“I last spoke to David on the telephone the day before he died. He said he wouldn’t stay on the phone because it’s being tapped but just wanted to let you know I’m alright.

“He believed that someone was after him.”

Heidi McHugh, of Lindon Road, Blacon, was helping at Capital Guest House in October when she raised the alarm after getting no answer by knocking on Mr Cawley’s door.

“I was concerned the night before. I’d said to my mum I thought he was on something.

“I was going to say he wants to be careful because he did look in a state.”

Builders next door were hailed to help break down the door.

When police searched Mr Cawley found a hypodermic needle in his pocket and a post mortem examination revealed he died following an opiate overdose.

Mr Cawley had once been thrown out of a homeless hostel in Chester for selling drugs there.

His girlfriend Sandra Bailey said: “He told me he would do himself in. The last six months were the worst of our relationship.”

In September 2007, Mr Cawley was treated at the Countess of Chester Hospital following an overdose of heroin and cocaine.

Recording an open verdict, coroner for Cheshire Nicholas Rheinberg said he died of respiratory failure due to an opiate overdose, adding: “It may have been an accidental overdose but it is quite likely that he did intend to kill himself.”