A 21-year-old was high on magic mushrooms when he stabbed himself to death, an inquest has heard.

Police discovered the body of Tom Belcher at his Newcastle-under-Lyme flat after his mum had raised the alarm.

It followed concerning messages that Tom had sent to his mum and sister. But there was nothing police and paramedics could do when they reached his Midway flat on October 18, 2022. Tom had stabbed himself once in the abdomen.

Staffordshire Police have ruled out any third-party involvement in Tom's death. Phone records showed he had been in contact with a family friend regarding magic mushrooms.

Pathologist Dr Mark Stevens said: "There is no evidence of any other injury externally, the features are therefore consistent with a self-inflicted injury. I have read the toxicology report which confirms the detection of psilocybin, this confirms the deceased had ingested magic mushrooms prior to his death."

In a statement, mum Heidi Belcher said: "Over the last few weeks of Tom's life he seemed at his happiest. He had made plans to go back to university and move to a bigger address where he could get a dog."

Staffordshire Police ruled out any third-party involvement in Tom's death (Staffordshire Police).

North Staffordshire assistant coroner Daniel Howe delivered a narrative verdict.

He told the inquest: "I am satisfied that not only had Tom ingested magic mushrooms, he was also suffering the effects of magic mushrooms at the time of his passing. I do not think that was an act of suicide, I cannot say that the act was fully down to the drugs but it certainly had an impact.

"For that reason I don't use the standard conclusion, I chose my own narrative conclusion. I find the death occurred due to a self-inflicted stab wound while under the influence of a psychoactive substance. Intent, therefore, cannot be ascertained."

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