AN INQUEST has revealed that Harlow man, Bradley Wernham, died after taking a large quantity of cocaine following travelling to Gilston to complete a drug deal.

The inquest, conducted by coroner, Caroline Beasley-Murray took place in Chelmsford this morning (Wednesday August 21st).

Bradley’s mother, Sharon O’Neill, was in attendance flanked by her sister. Behind them sat a dozen friends of the family.

The coroners officer opened proceedings detailing that Mr Wernham, (who was aged 27 at the time of his death) had, in the early hours of Sunday November 18th, gone to the Gilston area, on the border of Harlow, to supply drugs.

He was reported missing on Sunday November 18th and found in a field in the Gilston area on Wednesday November 21st.

The postmortem conducted at Princess Alexandra Hospital found that he had died of “cocaine toxicity” consistent with “swallowing a large quantity of cocaine”.

The post mortem found no injuries or evidence of assault.

Essex Police Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Truss gave evidence. He told the court that he was designated as senior investigation officer (SIO) until it was ascertained that Mr Wernham had died in the Hertfordshire side of the border.

DCI Truss detailed the level of priority they gave to this missing person enquiry, telling the court that Mr Wernham’s case was as follows.
Nov 19th: 10am: Low priority
Nov 21st: 1am: Medium priority
Nov 21st: 9pm: High priority

Bradley’s mother had revealed to that court that she had a number of questions and had written a detailed letter to the Essex Chief Constable. She asked why there was no public appeal to find Bradley? DCI Truss said he did not “really have an answer for that”.

Hertfordshire Police Detective Inspector, Alex Willcox gave evidence.

He gave details of messages from Mr Wernham’s mobile phone which revealed his last movements. At 2am on November 18th, there was an exchange with a James Whelan from Vine Grove, Gilston. who requested that Mr Wernham supply him with drugs.

DCI Wilcox detailed that Mr Whelan had been on a works night out (a boxing event) before returning to Gilston.

The records further revealed that Mr Wernham rang Metro Cars in order to get a taxi from the Purple Emperor area (Momples Road) to Gilston.

The cab got to the Gilston area but not to Mr Whelan’s house.

It appeared that Mr Wernham rang Mr Whelan several times but his messages were not picked up as Mr Whelan’s phone had run out of battery.

At 3.17am, Mr Wernham rang ABC Cabs but when they attended in Gilston they could not find Mr Wernham.

At 3.44am, Mr Wernham rang his partner Louise. He told her: “I am about to get nicked by the police but I haven’t done anything”.

Three days later, his body was found. DI Wilcox revealed that Mr Wernham’s body was found 500 metres from Vine Grove in Gilston, up a small track and onto a hill. Mr Wernham had removed his top.

At this point it was documented that Bradley Wernham had two phones on him however one of the phones (his contract phone) has not been recovered.

It was also revealed that when his body was found, it was without his doorkeys, cash and said contract phone.

A short discussion took place as to what police personnel were in the area at the time of his disappearance but it appeared that the only signal came from a Herts police car on patrol in the A414 area.

With the inquest coming to a conclusion, Mrs O’Neill, who had remained calm and composed throughout, asked whether the police didn’t investigate more fully due to who Bradley Wernham was?

Mrs O’Neill said: “It was a short investigation. He wouldn’t just swallow drugs unless he was being chased.”

Mr Wernham came to national prominence when he was jailed for five years for burglary at the age of 19 less than a year after a judge spared him prison when he admitted over 600 break-ins.

Mrs Beasley-Murray delivered an “open conclusion on the basis that there was not sufficient evidence for a definite conclusion but that if any new evidence was presented than the case may be re-opened”.

The inquest concluded.