An investigation into his death heard that Damien Chapman died from mixed drug toxicity after being found unresponsive at his family home.

Mr Chapman, who had struggled with addiction most of his life and had a long history of petty crime, was found at the address in Church Drove, Outwell, near Wisbech, on the evening of July 9, 2025.

Norfolk Coroner's Court heard he was discovered unresponsive in his bedroom at around 8.20pm by his sister, who immediately called emergency services while family members began CPR.

Damien Chapman (Image: Tfs)

Paramedics arrived shortly afterwards but, despite efforts to resuscitate him, Mr Chapman was pronounced dead at 8.55pm.

Police officers attending the scene noted injuries around his eyes, suggesting he may have fallen out of bed before collapsing. However, a post-mortem found no evidence of traumatic injury contributing to his death.

Medical evidence presented to coroner Maeve Sykes showed Mr Chapman had suffered serious health complications linked to drug use in the months before his death.

He had been admitted to hospital in April 2025 with sepsis caused by injecting drugs into his groin, and he was also treated for thrombosis.

Statements from drug treatment workers confirmed Mr Chapman had a long history of heroin and crack cocaine use dating back to age 13.

He had undergone four separate treatment episodes over the years and had previously achieved periods of abstinence, including while serving a prison sentence at HMP Norwich.

However, the inquest heard that tolerance levels drop after periods of abstinence, meaning the risk of overdose is significantly higher if drug use resumes. The court heard that Mr Chapman was aware of the risk.

He had recently been receiving opiate substitute treatment and support for anxiety with depression and had expressed motivation to stop using cocaine and cannabis and turn his life around.

Mr Chapman had a long history of crime including stealing the wallet of a vulnerable man he'd helped up after a fall, an offence for which he was jailed for 16 weeks in 2014.

Norwich Crown Court heard that Mr Chapman was on license for a different offence when he ran off with the man's wallet after pretending to be a 'good Samaritan.'

Norwich Prison (Image: Newsquest)

An officer who investigated the crime, PC David Block, said at the time of the sentencing: "Chapman deliberately posed as a good Samaritan and targeted a vulnerable man. Crimes like this have the potential to seriously damage the confidence of innocent people. This sentencing will help protect others from a callous thief."

CCTV of Chapman stealing a wallet from a vulnerable person he helped after a fall. (Image: Supplied)

The post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Chapman died from cardio-respiratory arrest caused by mixed drug toxicity.

The coroner recorded a conclusion of a drug-related death.

Offering sympathies to those affected, Ms Sykes said: “I offer my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Chapman.”

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