Lee Elliott · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 08/09/2020 I commenced an investigation into the death of Lee ELLIOTT. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest 25th November 2020. The short form conclusion recorded was Suicide and the record of inquest was as follows: “Lee Elliott died at his residence ████████, Workington on 6th February 2020. He had been troubled by mental health symptoms for a few months, had previously expressed suicidal ideation, and was being treated for depression by his general practitioner. He purchased 50 grams of ████████ from an internet supplier which he ingested causing his death”.

Medical Cause of death was 1a ████████ Poisoning

Lee Elliott had appeared to have been struggling with his mental health for a few months, he had admitted to an attempt to hang himself late in 2019, was reported at times to have had some possibly psychotic symptoms and received a severe head injury which he declined to explain. He was seeing his GP regularly and being treated with antidepressant medication. At his last GP appointment shortly before he died he denied ongoing suicidal ideation. However on 6th February 2020 he was found deceased in his bedroom. Two glasses were found, one empty and the other half full of a pale yellow liquid. There was a handwritten note next to the glass which read, 'DON’T DRINK, POISON SORRY LOVE YOU ALL'. There was an arrow on the note pointing to the fluid in the glass. An empty packet labelled ‘████████’ along with packaging indicating a purchase using EBay from a company in the south of England was recovered by the police who attended. A further consignment of this chemical was delivered to Lee’s home the following day from Poland. Examination of Lee’s computer revealed a number of websites and search terms relating to various suicide methods including chemical poisoning.

THE ABOVE INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE POLICE

(1) ████████ is being advocated by several websites easily found on the internet as a reliable and pain free way of taking one’s life. Often advice is given on the use of prescription medications to take to minimise any nausea caused when a solution of this substance is drunk. Links can be found to discussion groups which may encourage vulnerable and sick people to attempt to take their lives.
(2) ████████ [and other toxic substances] are easily and cheaply obtainable in small amounts by internet purchase with no safeguards.
(3) I am aware the senior coroner for West Yorkshire [East] issued a regulation 28 report to you in September referring to the death of Joseph Nihill who died in similar circumstances. I wish to echo all the concerns raised in that report, and also advise that I am to hear an inquest in the new year touching on the death of a young female student who whose medical cause of death has also been given as ████████ Toxicity.