Baby died after monkey dust drug exposure - inquest

Seven-week-old Ronnie Higginson went into cardiac arrest at a property in Cobridge, in 2019

A neglected baby was exposed to the drug monkey dust before his death at just seven weeks old, an inquest has heard.

Ronnie Higginson went into cardiac arrest at a house in Stoke-on-Trent and was pronounced dead on 26 November, 2019.

One social worker who visited the home, in Derwent Street, Cobridge, weeks before Ronnie was born, said conditions were some of the worst she had seen in 16 years.

His parents Kayleigh Clarke and Michael Higginson were found guilty of neglect in 2023, after failing to take Ronnie to hospital despite medics advising them to.

Clarke was later jailed for 27 months and Higginson received a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years.

The inquest, at Stoke's Civic Centre, heard concerns had been raised about Ronnie’s health in the days before his death.

He was reported to be breathing rapidly as well as having a cough, and his parents were advised to take him to hospital or a walk-in centre, but did not do so.

Ronnie’s cause of death has never been ascertained, but toxicology tests revealed psycho-active substances in his blood and urine.

The drugs were the same type as found on Higginson when he was arrested in January 2020, said Det Insp Gina Pope from Staffordshire Police.

Exposure to monkey dust would have increased the risk of cot death, and it was clear [Ronnie] had some sort of respiratory tract infection, she said.

Regular drug users

"Both [Clarke and Higginson] admitted that they were regular drug users, but at no point had they given any of their children drugs. But they were present, not necessarily in the same room," the detective added.

The inquest heard the family was already known to social services, and Clarke had concealed her pregnancy.

Ronnie was then born prematurely, just weeks after she revealed she was expecting a baby to the family’s allocated social worker.

Recalling her first meeting with the family, agency social worker Helen Hawkins said their home had no carpets on the floor, no bedding, and there was a potty that looked to have vomit in it.

"I have been a child protection worker for 16 years and the condition the children were living in was one of the worst I have ever seen," Ms Hawkins told the court.

Child protection conference

On another visit there was a "really strong" cannabis smell, with Ms Hawkins recalling Higginson was very argumentative, while Clarke appeared to be "extremely vulnerable.”

She flagged her concerns with senior management, and felt the situation "should have gone to legal advice", the hearing was told.

At that stage however, it was deemed the family should be given the chance to engage with social services, and a child protection conference would take place.

Ms Hawkins completed her report on the conference and delivered it to Higginson around the time Clarke was giving birth to Ronnie in hospital.

She left the council just days later.

The inquest continues.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.