Coroner rules on baby exposed to monkey dust

Seven-week-old Ronnie Higginson died in 2019 after going into cardiac arrest at an address on Derwent Street in Stoke-on-Trent

The cause of a seven-week-old baby’s death remains unknown following an inquest which heard how he was exposed to the drug monkey dust during his short life.

Ronnie Higginson died on 26 November 2019 after going into cardiac arrest at a relative’s home on Derwent Street, Stoke-on-Trent.

His parents Kayleigh Clarke and Michael Higginson failed to get him medical attention in the last few days of his life and in 2023 were convicted of child neglect.

On Wednesday, Staffordshire area coroner Emma Serrano recorded an open verdict following a three-day hearing examining the circumstances leading up to Ronnie's death.

She heard evidence from police, Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s children’s services and medics.

Both parents had a history of drug use, the inquest heard.

Tests carried out on bottles of baby formula seized after Ronnie's death showed trace amounts of monkey dust.

It may have been transferred from the environment or through poor hygiene when his bottles were being prepared.

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

Written statements from relatives and a friend revealed they had raised concerns about the baby's health in the days before he died and urged his parents to have him checked.

They said his symptoms included a cough and breathing difficulties.

But Ms Clarke had said he "seemed better" on the day before his death and she "didn’t want to walk up to the walk-in centre for nothing", the inquest heard.

During the hearing, one social worker described conditions at the family's home in Cobridge as among the worst she had seen in 16 years of child protection work.

She said she had flagged her concerns with senior management, and felt legal advice should have been taken on the case but it was decided the family should be given time to engage with social services.

A referral had been made by Staffordshire Police after concerns were raised about drug use in the home, the inquest heard.

At the time of his death, Ronnie was subject to a child protection notice, which had been put in place in the same month he was born.

His mother had not revealed she was expecting him until she told a social worker she was 30 weeks pregnant.

Bad feelings

The family’s case was later handed to a newly-qualified social worker, who said it should have been given to someone more senior, adding she was not given the family's full background and they were not engaging with her.

"The parents had bad feelings about social services, they kept saying they were being harassed by social services and police. I tried to build a relationship with them," she said in a statement read to the court.

She said she arranged a meeting of professionals, as advised by her manager, with the aim of seeking legal advice, but Ronnie died the day before it was scheduled.

"I felt overwhelmed and ended up leaving [the authority] - I felt very much on my own and out of my depth," she said.

A Stoke-on-Trent Safeguarding Partnership spokesperson said: "Following the tragic death of Ronnie Higginson and in accordance with statutory guidance, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Safeguarding Board undertook a rapid review.

"The lessons from this review have been applied across all agencies to ensure children are protected now and in the future."

The spokesperson added: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Ronnie today."