Tragic Star Hobson’s grieving grandfather died of a drug overdose on her mother’s 20th birthday just months after she let her female lover murder the innocent child.
Andrew Smith, 50, lost his battle with addiction and depression after being rushed to Bradford Royal Infirmary on June 16 last year, an inquest heard today.
Mr Smith had relapsed following a period of sobriety after 16-month-old Star was killed under the watch of his daughter Frankie Smith and murderer Savannah Brockhill in September 2020.
Frankie was jailed for eight years last month for allowing Star’s death, while Brockhill got a minimum of 25 years for committing the brutal murder.
Bradford Coroner’s Court was told Mr Smith had been found at his flat having suffered a cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.
His death came five days after he had discharged himself from hospital against medical advice after a respiratory arrest following a drugs overdose.
Andrew Smith, 50, struggled to cope after Star Hobson’s tragic murder in September, 2020
Star was murdered by Savannah Brockhill, under the watch of her own neglectful mother
Partners in death: Savannah Brockhill, 28 and Frankie Smith, 20, were convicted over Star
A post-mortem examination found toxic levels of methadone – a heroin substitute – in his blood, and this was recorded as his cause of death, Bradford Coroners Court heard.
A statement from one of his daughter’s Jade Smith was read out by Assistant Coroner Angela Brocklehurst during the hearing.
She said her father had attended Frizinghall Primary and Hanson School before working in bricklaying, and met his first partner aged 16, with whom he had two children.
Police released a harrowing picture of one of the bruises on Star’s face that sparked calls to social services from family
Star Hobson (pictured with Brockhill) suffered a cardiac arrest and died in hospital from appalling injuries inflicted on her
After nine years together they split up, and Mr Smith then met Yvonne Spendley, with whom he had five children, and they were together up until 2020 when he moved to a flat in Frizinghall.
Miss Smith said her father was ‘sociable, very funny and a bit of a lad’, but in his final years had become ‘lonely and unhappy’.
He lived with anxiety and depression for many years and also was a long-term drug user.
But she said he had constantly tried to beat his addiction and spent long periods sober before relapsing.
‘He always tried to escape them but the drugs drew him back in, they gave him an escape when things got tough,’ she said.
‘I told him to get off the drugs but it was a losing battle. If he could turn back time he would have lived life differently.’
She said he was a ‘loving and caring’ father, having regular contact with his children and grandchildren, and when she last spoke to him on June 15, 2021, the day before his tragic death, he had enjoyed a ‘good day with the kids’.
Frank Smith, Mr Smith’s father, added he was a ‘good son’ but the drugs had ‘changed him’.
Mr Smith had discharged himself from hospital five days before his tragic passing
A toxicologist report found ‘significant amounts of methadone in his blood, way beyond normal levels even for chronic users’.
The court also heard how he had long-term contact with drug misuse services and received ongoing treatment for his addiction.
At the start of 2021 he was drug free but was drinking ‘a few bottles of whisky a week’ and was alerted to the dangers of using alcohol and methadone and offered help which he declined.
An appointment in May 2021 found traces of heroin, cocaine, cannabis and methadone in his urine and he said he had used drugs.
On June 10, 2021, he was admitted to Bradford Royal Infirmary with respiratory arrest due to secondary drug overdose and kept in overnight for tests, but discharged himself the following morning against medical advice.
He was then found at home on June 16 having had a cardiac arrest, and his death was recorded at 9.40pm that day at BRI.
In conclusion, Assistant Coroner Mrs Brocklehurst said: ‘The post-mortem report found this was a methadone related death.
‘I find the cause of death was methadone toxicity, and my conclusion is this was a drugs related death.
‘My condolences and sympathies go to Mr Smith’s family, Jade painted a picture of a man loved and supported by his family who tried to escape addiction; sadly that was not possible and it brought about his sad death, but he tried.
‘It’s a tragic loss and I am sorry for that loss.’
Source: Daily Mail
