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Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Warning after 45 deaths from mystery substance bought online - and at least 40 more have purchased it
A senior coroner has issued a warning following the deaths of 45 people who bought a poisonous substance online. Timothy Brennand said a further 40 people were known to have purchased the chemical 'with a view to having the means to use this method to end their life in circumstances' - and warned online forums were promoting its use. In a series of Prevention of Future Deaths reports concerning a 'cluster' of eight deaths in his region, the Manchester West coroner did not identify the poison except to say it is a food preservative which can be used in meat curing. But he also warned it was also a 'reportable poison as well as a reportable explosives precursor'. The deaths Mr Brennand investigated included that of Kelly Walsh, a 45-year-old businesswoman who was the girlfriend of ex-footballer Andy Woodward, the first victim to waive his anonymity to publicly accuse the late paedophile football coach Barry Bennell of child sexual abuse. Bolton Coroner' Court heard Ms Walsh died after taking a poisonous substance bought online at her home in Atherton, Greater Manchester, in February 2021. The other deaths investigated by the coroner were of Matthew O'Reilly, 18, who died at his student accommodation in Salford in September 2020, Samuel Dickinson, 33, Matthew Price, 37, from Bolton, Chantelle Williams, who died in May 2020 in Salford, Shaun Bass, 23, from Bolton, Andrew Brown, 45, from Wigan and William Armstrong, 24, from Horwich, Bolton. Mr Armstrong died at a local hotel after sourcing the unnamed chemical online from a Russian vendor. The coroner said that reporting restrictions had previously been imposed on the cases due to an 'ongoing criminal investigation in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States of America'. Mr Brennand said a police investigation into one UK-based business found it had supplied 247 customers around the UK and Europe in a 12-month period. Police established that 45 purchasers in the UK and Europe 'were confirmed as only 15 purchases were confirmed to have taken place for legitimate purposes (meat curing etc.)' In all 247 transactions, the coroner said: 'The vendors of the (poison) were not aware of this potential misuse of the substance. 'The small quantities being purchased had been incorrectly evaluated to be an increase in individuals pursuing recreational home-curing/food preservations as a hobby, being an artefact of 'lockdown' living following the COVID national pandemic emergency. 'Vendors were unaware that their website/details were being distributed as part of internet information platforms designed to aid, abet, assist or promote suicide methods. In his reports to Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, and local police, ambulance and mental health officials in the North West, the coroner warned that current Home Office guidance does not 'reference (the poison) as a specific example of concern and focuses on the phenomenon of 'malicious' misuse and not deliberate misuse in the sense of suicide/self-harm.' He said the purchase of small quantities of the poison 'is being presumed to be connected to the many legitimate uses of the than in fact, being evaluated as a member of the public seeking purchase of modest quantities used as their chosen means by which to end life.' The inquest into Ms Kelly's death heard she purchased an unnamed poisonous substance after seeking out advice on an online forum which described itself as a 'safe space'. Mr Brennand warned about the prevalence of such websites that 'promoted information as to how to access' prepare and use poisons that could bring about death. Ms Walsh was found to have ordered the poison 'from an internet-based supplier in Lithuania'. Her actions were 'deliberate and intentional' and she had a declining mental health. The coroner said Mr O'Reilly died from a 'deliberate act of recent self-ingestion'. Mr Dickenson died in March 2020 in Wigan having left a suicide note. An opened sachet bag was found next to him. The coroner redacted the name of the substance it contained, but said it had been sourced the previous month from an online firm licenced to sell such controlled poisons. Mr Bass died in February 2020 having sourced a poison in similar fashion. He had suffered from depression and anxiety. The coroner said tests found that Mr Price had consumed a 'significant and fatally toxic quantity' of the unnamed substance, having sent an email to family members which 'contained unequivocal expressions of the deceased's intention.' Mr Brown, who had a history of mental health conditions, was found dead in August 2023 in circumstances that puzzled investigators as his motive still remains 'unclear'. The coroner said the most likely scenario that led to his death was a 'fleeting, ill-considered, irrational self-harming ideation'. Mr Armstrong, 24, had shown symptoms of a psychotic illness and ingested poison after checking into a hotel. He called 999 to report what happened but it took 89 minutes for the ambulance to arrive, by which time he was dead. Chantelle Williams, who had a 'complex medical history', first ingested a 'significant but non-fatal' dose of the substance in 2019 and checked into Salford Royal Hospital where she received care. Twice she managed to order the poison while still on the Keats Ward at the hospital and ingest the poison, with the second incident killing her in May 2020. The Home Office is required to respond within 56 days of the coroner's report.
Global News
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Global News
Calgary police see significant drop in speeding tickets after photo radar ban
Speeding enforcement in Calgary has seen a significant decline compared with the same time period last year, according to new data from the Calgary Police Service, now that there are restrictions on the use of photo radar. The data shows between January and the end of April, the service issued 25,761 fewer tickets than during the same time period last year, when 98,523 speeding tickets were issued. In April alone, when the photo radar restrictions took effect, the figures show 12,380 fewer tickets were issued when compared with last year; 30,604 speeding tickets were issued in April 2024. 'I do feel it's kind of a neglectful way of dealing with this in regards to taking that area away from us,' said Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward with the Calgary police traffic unit. A significant portion of the drop in tickets in the first quarter of 2025 is due to Calgary police phasing out speed on green cameras earlier than the April 1 deadline. 29,573 speed on green camera tickets were issued between January and April 2024. Story continues below advertisement According to police, the change was made when the province announced in December it was restricting intersection safety devices to red-light cameras only, allowing a transition period. The provincial rules do still allow photo radar to be used in construction zones, as well as school and playground zones. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Calgary police issued 5,928 photo radar tickets in those areas after the rules took effect in April, 781 fewer tickets than in April of last year. There were 10,408 speeding tickets issued by officers in April, a decline of 595 tickets compared with last year, and Woodward said officers are being asked to pick up enforcement. 'Each district is now responsible for looking at areas of serious fatalities or even just collisions where officers should be going out there and doing enforcement,' Woodward said. In February, CPS said the decision from the provincial government to claw back the use of photo radar, which in turn would have an impact on police revenue, would create a $28-million budget shortfall in 2025 'and beyond.' In March, city council voted in favour of using reserve funds to cover that gap this year. When asked about the reduction in enforcement through tickets, Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek said she is concerned about the impact to traffic safety on city streets. Story continues below advertisement 'Just last week, in the span of a day, we had some serious collisions and we had a death, so I will reiterate automated traffic enforcement was always meant to save lives,' Gondek told Global News. 'The provincial government has now put us in a position where Calgarians are unsafe, especially on high-speed roadways.' In response, Alberta transportation minister Devin Dreeshen said the province's goal was never to hand out as many tickets as possible, but to improve road safety. In a statement, Dreeshen said the new rules prioritize enforcement in high-risk zones like schools, playgrounds, and construction areas. He noted municipalities still have the option to apply to use photo radar in locations outside the new rules, but only if they can prove that traffic-calming measures are ineffective and the location poses a high collision risk. 'Albertans support safe roads, not hidden cameras on commuter routes. We listened, and now we're seeing a system that's more transparent, targeted, and accountable,' he said in a statement. According to Woodward, 35 per cent of the fatal collisions in Calgary last year were due to speed. He said red light cameras are still in effect, and photo radar will be in nine construction zones and in some of Calgary's more than 300 playground zones. Story continues below advertisement But Woodward said the police service is concerned heading into the summer months, and is urging people to be mindful of their speed. 'I'm concerned,' he said. 'The road conditions will be relatively good and that does give people the ability where they feel they can speed.'
