Alcohol and cocaine killed Colchester man on balcony

The family of Stuart Stocking, 30, paid tribute to the computer software engineer after he was found dead on the balcony of his home in Claremont Heights, Colchester, on October 4, last year.

The inquest at Essex Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford, heard Mr Stocking had been made redundant months before his death.

But he was about to start a new job as head of department with an international computing company and was excited about his prospects.

A resident dialled 999 when they saw him slumped over on his balcony.

Police used a ladder to reach the first-floor balcony and a paramedic confirmed him as dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination found he had 262mg of alcohol per 100ml in his blood, and 0.87mg of cocaine.

The cause of death was the intoxicating effects of alcohol and cocaine. His parents, William and Lorraine, who live in Bovey Tracey, Devon, and sister Bryony, who lives in Bath, travelled to Essex to be at the hearing.

Mrs Stocking said she had been devastated by her son’s sudden death.

She told the inquest: “He was made redundant and this was a severe blow to him, but three days before he died, he said it was the best thing that had happened to him.

“He had landed his dream job and a salary to go with it and he was so excited about the future.

“His death has left an unfillable void in my life and that of his father and sister.”

Mr Stocking grew up in Devon and moved to Colchester when he was 18 to attend Essex University, gaining a BSc Hons in software engineering.

His dad William said Stuart was a witty man who loved rugby and Liverpool Football Club, and had used a life-long interest in computers to forge a successful career.

“We were proud of him and what he achieved.

“He was witty and had a wicked sense of humour which he shared with his sister.”

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray expressed her sympathies and recorded a verdict of accidental death.

She said: “There was nothing to indicate he intended to take his own life.”