A MAN who “extensively” used spice while in prison died the same day he was released after taking a cocktail of drugs and alcohol.

Adam Ramsden, 30, was released from HMP Wealstun, near Wetherby, on October 15, 2018, where he had been serving a two-year sentence for grabbing a cash box from a security guard outside Dewsbury railway station.

An inquest into his death, held at Bradford Coroners’ Court yesterday, heard that after his release he had acquired alcohol, pregabalin, cocaine and had also taken around three pipes of spice and had “succumbed”.

He was found unresponsive at an address in Chellow Street, Bankfoot, the same day of his release and was taken to the Bradford Royal Infirmary, but was pronounced dead just before 5pm.

There was no sign of third-party involvement or that he had intended to harm himself.

The inquest heard Mr Ramsden died from the affects of cocaine and spice usage - assistant coroner Crispin Oliver said he had abused spice “extensively” while in prison and ruled his death as an accidental, drugs-related death.

The inquest heard there had been 36 incidents, including emergency call-outs to Mr Ramsden’s cell, while he was in prison.

Mr Ramsden’s family did not wish to speak following the inquest, but in an interview with the Daily Mirror in December 2018 said he got hooked on the drugs while in prison and weeks before his release had written to a friend saying he was “on spizy daily”.

His brother, Joel, told the paper: “He said he took spice in his cell because it just knocked him out and passes the time.

“It’s stupid. There’s more spice in prison than outside. I don’t want people to just think he was some druggy, because he wasn’t.”

He said Mr Ramsden had jumped from the roof of the prison while on the drug and ended up in hospital after razor wire cut his arm on the way down.

Spice is a nickname for herbal smoking compounds containing one or more of a group of drugs called ‘synthetic cannabinoids’.

The strength of spice varies, but it can be hundreds or thousands of times stronger than cannabis. Its strength can make it highly addictive.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Our sympathies remain with the family of Mr Ramsden and since 2018, HMP Wealstun has taken further measures to stop drugs getting in, including a new X-ray scanner.

“Every offender also now has a dedicated officer as part of the key worker scheme giving them one-to-one support during their time in custody.”