A Ryde man hanged himself in woodland near Binstead after taking a cocktail of drugs and alcohol, an inquest has heard.
43-year-old Maurice Reginald Hammond, of Arthur Street in Ryde, was found in woodland to the rear of Ryde House on 1st August 2021.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Police and paramedics responded to the Ladies Walk area when a member of the public – accompanied by their child – discovered Mr Hammond’s body in amongst woodland known as Players Wood.
He had hanged himself from a tree.
An inquest into his death, opened on 26th August 2021 and concluded in writing on 6th September, detailed how Mr Hammond had taken a cocktail of various street drugs, medication and alcohol before suspending himself.
Less than 3 months before his death, Maurice Hammond – who was born in Northampton – appeared in court after biting a Post Office worker on the leg during a confrontation. At the time of the hearing his own defence solicitor noted that he was taking heavy painkillers – mixed with alcohol – whilst recovering from an operation. Mr Hammond was said to suffer from epilepsy and diabetes.
Coroner for the Isle of Wight, Caroline Sumeray, recorded an open conclusion.






















































































May his troubled soul rest in peace
Not enough help post op for people just given painkillers…
Prescription drugs ruin lives but no one speaks about it. To many people taking the devils drugs painkillers and anti-depressants
The only devil here is you
The inquest concluded September 2021, how has it taken over 2 years to report this?