Homeless Leeds man died in tent hours before he was due to view flat

A housing officer visited 52-year-old rough sleeper Jason Wager at his tent under the Dark Arches on Neville Street in Leeds city centre at around 3pm on July 9 2018, Wakefield Coroner's Court heard.

The housing officer arranged to meet Mr Wager the following day to view a flat in Leeds.

Tragically, Mr Wager, who grew up in Seacroft, was found dead in his tent on the morning of July 10 2018.

His twin sister Jackie, of Whinmoor, Leeds, said after the inquest that her brother had lived on the streets since he was aged in his early 20s.

She said: "We got him a flat in Seacroft for three years, but he was evicted six or seven years ago.

"I said to him 'you are getting on a bit, you need to get another place.'

"He was going to get a flat in Gipton. I think he had an appointment at 10am to go view it."

Miss Wager said: "He was a great man and respected everybody. He was loved by lots of people.

Miss Wager added "I miss him, I have thought about him every day."

The inquest heard Mr Wager was spotted slumped outside his tent on the evening of July 9 and a member of the public called an ambulance just before 8.30pm.

Mr Wager was placed in the ambulance, but refused to be taken to hospital for treatment.

At around 6.30am the next day, July 9, Mr Wager's friend Christopher Tinker went to see him at the tent and found him in an unresponsive state.

An ambulance was called and a paramedic ponounced Mr Wager dead at the scene just beore 7am.

Mr Tinker wrote in a statement read to the court: "I know Jason to be an alcoholic and recently he has been smoking spice."

Mr Tinker added in the statement: "I have known him for 14 years as a friend."

Police constable Ruby Price of West Yorkshire Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

A toxicology report revealed evidence of cocaine, spice, methodone and morphine in Mr Wager's system.

Forensic pathologist Dr Kirsten Hope concluded Mr Wager died as a result of a combination of the effects of spice, alcohol, heroin, alcohol, diazepam, methodone and cocaine.

Assistant coroner James Hargan recordede a verdict of drugs related death.