Tragic tale of Derbyshire mum who wanted to turn her life around

She had recently got back in touch with her daughter

A Derbyshire mum died from a drugs overdose just as she was beginning to turn her life around, an inquest has heard.

In the weeks leading up to her death, Gail Thompson was back in contact with her daughter and harboured hopes of regularly seeing her grandchildren.

The 49-year-old died at her home address in Godfrey Drive, Ilkeston, after taking the overdose of a substance believed to be heroin.

Derby Coroner's Court heard that Ms Thompson was found by a support worker, who called an ambulance after finding her slumped against a radiator on January 16, this year.

Ms Thompson, who was born in Blackburn, was pronounced dead at the scene, before officers from Derbyshire police attended.

PC Alice King, an officer at Ilkeston police station, dialled in to give evidence at the inquest on Friday, September 11.

She said: "Unfortunately, the police knew Gail as a long-term drug user.

"But she had recently got back in touch with her daughter, her spirits were very high and her life looked to be on the up."

The hearing ruled that Ms Thompson had no intentions of ending her own life when taking the overdose.

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Concluding a drug-related death, assistant coroner Emma Serrano said: "It appears to me that Gail did have a problem with drugs. It appears that cocaine and heroin were the drugs she used historically.

"She had recently made contact with her daughter again and seemed happy in herself, so I cannot conclude that she intended to take her own life.

"It is more likely than not that Gail passed away as a result of the drugs overdose."