Jamie Rosengren, 28, collapsed and died after a 23 day cocaine binge
The family of a paranoid drug addict who died after going on a three-week-long drugs binge using a £10,000 benefits payout has slammed the Department of Work and Pensions.
An inquest in Bristol heard how Jamie Rosengren, 28, collapsed and died from cardiac arrest having boasted days before of his ‘rock-n-roll’ lifestyle and of blowing £1,000 in drugs in a single weekend.
Mr Rosengren appeared to have gone on a cocaine binge and died 23 days after he received the backdated benefits payment from the DWP.
Mr Rosengren – who had a long history of mental illness – had traces of cocaine in his body when he died.
His father Ernst criticised the DWP for the £10k benefit back payment given to his son.
He told the inquest: ‘Had I known I would have done everything in my power to prevent the misuse of these funds.
‘Drug dealers were calling around the clock as word spread that he had money.’
And after the inquest, he criticised both the DWP and housing charity Second Step saying, ‘no one took responsibility’.
‘They let him have a £1,000 drug party – who lets anyone have a £1,000 drug party?’
‘There were warning signs. I texted the care worker to say ”this is a life and death situation, he’ll either commit suicide or die of a drug overdose,” and five days later he was dead.’
The younger Mr Rosengren was found collapsed in the hallway of his shared supported accommodation on the evening of October 22, today’s inquest heard.
His parents have slammed the Department of Work and Pensions after Mr Rosengren was given a £10,000 backdated benefits payment
He got the cash from the DWP on September 26 last year – but was £790 overdrawn within 23 days.
The £10,296 benefits backpayment was made after the DWP ruled Mr Rosengren should have been getting the Severe Disability Premium for the last four years, at £2,500 per year.
Flatmates called the ambulance after musician Mr Rosengren was found turning blue and when medics arrived they were told that he’d been on a ‘£9,000 drug binge’ over the previous week.
Mr Rosengren told his support worker he had ‘a rock and roll lifestyle’ after the £10,000 benefits payout from the DWP, just weeks before his death.
He had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and taken from his father’s care at the age of 24.
He got the cash from the DWP on September 26 last year – but was £790 overdrawn within 23 days
‘The next four years were a nightmare,’ Ernst said.
‘By this time he was hooked on stronger drugs.’
Ernst said he believes his son’s health worsened when he was discharged from hospital and he stopped taking prescribed injections.
Mr Rosengren moved into supported housing on Cranbrook Road, Bristol.
Tim Day, from the charity Second-Step, which run the flats said they had been alerted to concerns about Mr Rosengren on three occasions.
Mr Day said he had not received any information that indicated there had been a party involving drugs at the accommodation.
The court heard that Mr Rosengren’s family, other residents at the flats he lived in and Mr Rosengren himself all raised concerns about people visiting his flat and taking drugs.
Mr Rosengren – who had a long history of mental illness – had traces of cocaine in his body when he died
The 28-year-old had told Second Step that friends he let into his flat were taking his things and that ‘street urchins were making his life a misery’.
Second Step told the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP), who were in charge of Mr Rosengren’s care – who said he needed to take more responsibility and ‘manage his door effectively.’
Dr Agrawal, a Psychatrist from AWP, told the court that Mr Rosengren had won a tribunal releasing him from mandatory mental health care and had subsequently reduced his medication.
He said: ‘Jamie told me he was very clear he didn’t think he had any mental he issues and he wanted to continue with the life he had.’
The doctor added Mr Rosengren had the capacity to make his own decisions at the time of his death, saying: ‘we can advise a person, saying this is unhelpful for you, but we cannot force them to change their decisions.’
Assistant Coroner Myfanwy Buckeridge said cardiac arrhythmia caused by cocaine use was the most likely cause of death.
Mr Rosengren was found collapsed in the hallway of his shared supported accommodation on the evening of October 22
His father Ernst said he believes his son’s health worsened when he was discharged from hospital and he stopped taking prescribed injections
Speaking after the inquest, Mr Rosengren’s mother Deborah Hayward, 56, said he needed more help adding ‘he went from 24/7 support to one-and-a-half hours a week.
‘I think the coroner answered the questions she was able to but didn’t mention the fact that he was overdrawn, that amount of money in three weeks isn’t a little drug binge.
‘If I’d known how much it was we would have been on his doorstep, we would have been begging him to put that money aside.’
A tearful Ms Hayward continued: ‘He asked me for my bank details, I think his thought was that, if people were starting to take advantage of him, to transfer the money over to me, but he didn’t tell me that, so I didn’t send them to him.
Ernst said his son was vulnerable and had been taken advantage of.
He said: ‘I think some of it was stolen for sure, they thought ”were going to take advantage of this guy”.’
Housing charity Second Step said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Jamie Rosengren, and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
‘In response to any serious incident involving a client we always review our processes and procedures to ensure we continue to learn and improve.’
Interim Medical Director of AWP, Dr Peter Wood, said: ‘All the staff involved in Jamie’s care were sadden to hear of his death and we offer our sincere condolences to his family, we have offered to meet with them to discuss further any concerns or questions they may have.’
The DWP said: ‘We work to ensure people get the full financial support they are entitled to.’