This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Sport
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Podcasts

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sport
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Subscribe to trusted local news

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

  • Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

10

Mar 2021

Last Updated: 10/03/2021
Crime
Crime

Harrogate man died from drugs, not head injury, inquest told

by Connor Creaghan

| 10 Mar, 2021
Comment

0

Christine Bloomfield, Mr Atkinson's mother, was at the inquest and said afterwards 'people should remember him for his heart of gold and his smile'. He was just 38 when he died.

aaron-atkinson
Aaron Atkinson died in Harrogate in May 2020.

A coroner has ruled that a Harrogate man died as a result of drugs rather than a head injury, as police first believed.

Aaron Atkinson, 38, who was homeless at the time of his death, was found at a flat at Park House Green on May 7 last year.

North Yorkshire Police arrested two men, aged 46 and 40 at the time, on suspicion of murder and robbery shortly after the incident.

However, the force has now dropped its suspicions of murder.

It told the Stray Ferret today that one of the two suspects remains under investigation for assault and robbery. The other is still under investigation for robbery and theft.




Read more:



  • Police name victim of suspected murder in Harrogate

  • Harrogate murder trial set for October






Jonathan Leach, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire and York, said at an inquest in Northallerton today:

"It is clear from the reports I have seen that Aaron Atkinson had a history of alcohol and drug abuse.
"Mr Atkinson was found unresponsive at a flat on Park House Green at 3am. The post-mortem found that he had taken heroin, cocaine, alcohol and anti-depressants.
"I have found the cause of death to be drugs-related."


A mother's tribute


Christine Bloomfield, Mr Atkinson's mother, was at the inquest and told the Stray Ferret about her son's life:

"People should remember Aaron for his heart of gold and his smile. He was a loving brother and son.
"He just got on the wrong path and went through a lot of heartache. Aaron recently lost his nan, dad and wife.
"My son was getting back on track. I saw him before he died in March and he had cleaned himself up.
"When we go through a life with a lot of sadness we all go in search for something to comfort us. With him it was drugs and alcohol.
"But he started to realise that he needed to make some changes. I believed him, he was doing well and I was proud of him. Then this happened."