Inquest to Probe Cocaine Death of Disabled 10-Year-Old Boy from East London
An inquest into the tragic death of 10-year-old Isaac Mansfield, a disabled boy from Stratford, east London, will examine who had access to him in the 36 hours before he was rushed to hospital after being exposed to cocaine.
Isaac, a vulnerable child with known metabolic health issues, died at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington on September 10, 2023. The cause of death was initially attributed to natural organ failure. However, weeks later, Isaac’s GP identified a positive urine toxicology result for a metabolite of cocaine, sparking an urgent investigation.
By that time, Isaac’s body had already been cremated, making further physical evidence gathering impossible.
Police Found No Criminal Offence; Inquest Will Continue
The Metropolitan Police Service opened an inquiry but found insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution. Now, Senior East London Coroner Graeme Irvine says the inquest must act as a surrogate criminal investigation to determine who may have exposed Isaac to cocaine.
“It’s very unfortunate that I’m left in this position,” said Mr Irvine during a hearing at East London Coroner’s Court on June 12.
Mr Irvine confirmed that the inquest will assess, on the balance of probabilities, who had unsupervised access to Isaac in the final 36 hours of his life. This includes family members, school staff at John F Kennedy Special School, and carers employed through Care Avenue.
Cocaine Exposure Linked to Fatal Organ Failure
Isaac became unwell while at school on September 6, 2023, and was taken first to Newham Hospital before being transferred to St Mary’s paediatric intensive care unit. A paediatric pathologist later concluded it was more likely than not that cocaine exposure triggered a fatal sequence of organ complications.
Mr Irvine stressed that it was improbable that the toxicology result was a false positive, as two separate hospital blood samples confirmed cocaine metabolites.
Family, Carers, and School Staff to Face Questions
Isaac’s father, Jordan Montlake, attended the hearing and was asked to prepare a detailed timeline and biographical statement about Isaac’s life and care. Mr Irvine previously expressed concern about Mr Montlake’s absence at an earlier hearing but has since confirmed that he was unaware of the date and was overseas at the time.
Carer Edith Adachukwu will be expected to attend court to discuss events leading up to Isaac’s illness. The care agency, Care Avenue, has been asked to help identify other carers who may have had access to Isaac during the period in question.
Staff at JFK School, including nurses from the East London Foundation Trust, may also be called to testify. However, Mr Irvine clarified he would not require attendance from any individuals unless there is a realistic possibility they were involved in administering the drug.
Clarification on Family Connection at St Mary’s
The court also heard that a distant relative of Isaac’s worked at St Mary’s ICU, where he died. However, Mr Irvine confirmed that this person was not directly involved in Isaac’s treatment and that there was no undue influence on medical decisions or disclosure.
“It was entirely proper for Isaac to be transferred to St Mary’s,” said the coroner.
The Metropolitan Police remain involved in the inquest to ensure ongoing coordination with evidence as it develops. A date for the full inquest has not yet been set.
