Mystery of dad found dead at the roadside

Oct 4 2007 by Dave Black, The Journal

MYSTERY continues to surround the death of a young father found lying by the side of the road after setting off to bike home from a party.

The body of roofer John Richmond, 20, was discovered lying across his mountain bike in grass next to the East Cramlington to Seaton Delaval road in Northumberland at 7.40am on a Saturday morning in November last year.

The previous night he had been drinking vodka and Red Bull at a party he attended with his partner, Jade Cleverley, 19, in Cramlington, which he left at around 11pm after they had an argument. Mr Richmond, who lived with Miss Cleverley and their baby son Harvey in Seaton Delaval, went on to the home of a friend in Cramlington where he continued drinking before borrowing the bike to ride home. He never made it and his body was found the next morning by a passing cyclist.

Yesterday an inquest in Ashington was told that a full post-mortem examination had failed to ascertain a conclusive cause of death.

Pathologist Dr Peter Birch, said it appeared most likely that Mr Richmond had been intoxicated by alcohol and a small amount of cocaine, lay down at the roadside and died from hypothermia. Dr Birch said Mr Richmond was a fit and healthy young man and the exact cause of death remained unascertained.

Mr Richmond’s friend, James Bell, of Barrasford Road, Cramlington, said that when he left his house to bike home he appeared fine . Kenneth Thompson, of Hillheads, Whitley Bay, who found the body, said he noticed there was frost on the bike which Mr Richmond was lying across.

Mr Richmond’s mother Jackie, 49, of Lockerbie Road, Cramlington, told the hearing the family still had unanswered questions and concerns about his death. Mrs Richmond, who lost another son in a road accident 21 years ago when he was five, said:“We feel we have not been getting answers from anyone.”

Coroner Eric Armstrong said it was possible the combination of alcohol and cocaine caused John to lie down and fall asleep.

“There are unanswered questions about why he was off the road and lying across the bike but I think it is likely he did stop at the side of the road rather than fall off his bike. This is going to remain a mystery. But there is nothing suspicious here.”

Verdict: Open.