Longtime Hartlepool drug abuser died of lethal mixture of substances

The body of Sharon Mincher, 54, was found inside a house used by other drug users in Rugby Street, Hartlepool, on September 28 last year.

Police attended but found no evidence anybody else was involved.

An inquest into the circumstances of her death found she died as a result of the combined toxic effects of multiple drugs in her system including fatal levels of heroin.

Andrew Blair, assistant coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool, heard evidence that Ms Mincher was known to her doctors as a drug abuser who was dependent on heroin.

She had used the drug since she was 20 and taken crack cocaine since she was 19.

A member of Hartlepool’s Start drug and alcohol team said they had offered support to Ms Mincher for around 20 years and that she was last seen by them on September 16 last year.

At the time of her death, she also had high levels of non-prescription tablets used to treat epilepsy and insomnia as well as traces of cocaine.

The inquest in Middlesbrough heard she had spent periods in prison and had been released just over two weeks prior to her death.

Ms Mincher, who was of no fixed address, went to the house in Rugby Street on the evening of September 27.

A police officer who responded to her death said there were numerous people present and drug paraphernalia in the bedroom where she was found.

Mr Blair recorded concluded her death was drug-related.

He expressed his condolences to Ms Mincher’s family and friends.