Ex-soldier died after taking party-drug meow meow (From Your Local Guardian)

Ex-soldier died after taking party-drug meow meow

7:00am Friday 17th February 2012 in Wandsworth By Alexandra Rucki

A 40-year-old ex-soldier died after taking a potent mix of alcohol and the party-drug mephedrone, an inquest heard.

Stephen Allebone, of Francis Chichester Way, Battersea, was found dead in his flat surrounded by drugs paraphernalia in December last year.

The inquest on February 16 heard his flatmate returned home to find him snoring in the living room.

But the next morning he was "not looking right" and called an ambulance.

Police Constable Ryan Adams said there were thin straws and polythene bags strewn around his flat, associated with taking crystal meth.

A post mortem examination found toxic levels of methadone and meow meow, also known as mephedrone, in his system.

High levels of the drug GBL, a solvent similar to GHB, cocaine and alcohol were also found, which caused him to suffer from a cardiorespiratory arrest.

The court heard Mr Allebone was admitted to Battersea Alcohol Services on several occasions, but failed to attend follow-up appointments.

He lived alone and was separated from his wife, having grown up in Zambia and worked for the South African Army.

Coroner Dr William Dolman said: "He had a chaotic lifestyle. It was a lifestyle of alcohol and drugs abuse."

Party drug mephedrone was made illegal in 2010 and has been linked to about 38 deaths in the UK.