Homeless man dies while sleeping in Worthing alleyway, inquest hears

A 30-year-old labourer who was found in a Worthing alleyway died after taking a combination of drugs and alcohol, an inquest heard.

James Armour, who was single and of no fixed address, died on November 16, last year, between two properties in Pavilion Road.

An inquest into his death was held at Centenary House, Durrington, on Thursday.

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It heard that Mr Armour, who was born in Chichester, had a psychotic personality disorder which had ruined his relationship with his family, who he had not seen in several years.

He consumed drugs and alcohol excessively and had ‘no insight into his condition’, according to a statement from his mother, Diddy Ford.

On the night of his death, it appeared he had not been able to find anywhere to stay and had ‘sought a warm location to spend the night’, said assistant coroner Christoper Wilkinson.

He picked the location between the homes in Pavilion Road because it was right next to an extractor fan for a boiler which was expelling warmth, suggested Mr Wilkinson, who added: “It would have given him some comfort.”

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He was first seen by a passerby, who believed him to be asleep, at around 7.30am.

A second member of the public saw him at around noon and, concerned for him, called an ambulance, the inquest heard.

A post mortem examination found that he had used heroin and cocaine and had also drunk a significant amount of alcohol, the combination of which would have slowed down his heart and his breathing.

Mr Wilkinson concluded that Mr Armour’s death was ‘drug-related’.

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“I’m sure he wouldn’t have in any way suffered,” Mr Wilkinson said. “He simply went to sleep and didn’t wake up.”

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