Mother's loss in heroin tragedy (From Stroud News and Journal)

Mother's loss in heroin tragedy

DEVASTATED mother Victoria Sinclair has issued a stark warning to young people tempted by heroin after it stole her son's life.

An inquest heard how 25-year-old Thomas Richter - a promising archaeology student and popular sportsman - died from a lethal cocktail of the Class A drug and alcohol.

Thomas, a talented fast bowler for Randwick Cricket Club, died on February 1 last year after using heroin on and off for four years.

Speaking after Wednesday's verdict of accidental death, Mrs Sinclair, 51, slammed the trade in illegal drugs and pleaded with users to get help.

"Drugs are dangerous and can and will send you psychotic," she said. "My message to all users of A, B or C class drugs is go for help.

"Support is out there so don't let another family suffer this searing pain or grief."

Thomas, who lived with his uncle in The Martins, Cashes Green, was a risk taker by nature.

But Mrs Sinclair, of Eastfield Road, Minchinhampton, said he was also a sensitive young man who suffered from depression and anxiety.

When he was just 13-years-old he wrote a moving poem hinting at his inner turmoil which was published in a book called Snap Happy.

Mrs Sinclair said all young people are vulnerable to being exposed to drugs.

"Tom was a wonderful, handsome, intelligent boy and he loved people," she said.

"But he mixed with the wrong people in Stroud who were always going to influence him and eventually he experimented but only occasionally and he was never addicted."

The inquest at Shire Hall heard how Thomas, a former pupil of Rose Hill School near Wotton-under-Edge, Cobham, returned home from DBs pub in Cainscross with a friend, Laura Chappell, to take heroin in his room on January 29 last year.

"I didn't see him inject himself due to what I was doing myself," said Ms Chappell.

"He went to the door of the bedroom and just fell over.

"I tried to get a response from him but he only grunted."

He was rushed to intensive care but doctors were unable to revive him.

His parents agreed for Thomas' organs to be donated. The hearing was told this act has helped five other people live.

Thomas, who was last year awarded his degree posthumously by Bournemouth University, leaves behind four siblings Peter, Sabrina, Rosie and Joshua.

Gloucester Coroner Alan Crickmore said: "This is yet another sad story where a person who abused heroin dies as a result."