Fatal drugs interaction after night shift at HMP Norwich
An inquest at Norfolk Coroner's Court has concluded that a 38-year-old prison officer died from a heart attack after taking cocaine within hours of finishing a night shift at HMP Norwich. Toxicology results showed the illegal stimulant in his blood alongside prescribed and other medicines, and medical experts told the court the combination increased the risk of a fatal heart rhythm disturbance.
The deceased, identified in court papers as Nathan Pizzey, was found unresponsive in his bedroom at his grandmother’s home in Tavern Lane, Diss, on 5 January 2026. He had returned from a night shift at HMP Norwich at about 8am, taken a bath and slept during the day ahead of another night shift that evening.
His grandmother, Maureen Pizzey, said she spent the day trying not to disturb him and later discovered him kneeling beside his bed when she went to wake him for work. She immediately feared he had died and called 999. Paramedics attended but Mr Pizzey was confirmed dead shortly after 5pm.
"The results indicated Mr Pizzey had used cocaine within one or two hours of his death," said Dr Stephen Morley, a consultant forensic toxicologist.
Police officers who searched the room found a small plastic bag containing traces of a white powder suspected to be cocaine in a rubbish bag. Toxicology testing detected cocaine, the antidepressant sertraline, codeine and the antipsychotic quetiapine in his blood.
Medical evidence presented at the inquest described how cocaine is harmful to the heart and can precipitate abnormal heart rhythms. Sertraline, while prescribed to treat depression, also carries a known increased risk of arrhythmia. Clinicians said Mr Pizzey was more vulnerable because of a pre-existing cardiac condition.
Context and welfare issues for staff
Relatives told the court Mr Pizzey had previously worked as a barber before joining the prison service. His grandmother said he had begun using cocaine in his 20s to cope with stress and that his mental health had declined subsequently, although she believed he had seemed happier in the weeks before his death. The inquest record does not set out any disciplinary matters or workplace investigations relating to his role at HMP Norwich.
The circumstances underline the complex overlap of occupational stress, mental health and substance use among staff working in custodial settings. Night shifts and rotating hours are known to affect sleep and wellbeing, and the combination of illicit drugs with prescribed psychotropic medicines can carry lethal risks.
- Age of deceased: 38
- Date found: 5 January 2026
- Location: Grandmother's home, Tavern Lane, Diss
- Workplace: HMP Norwich
| Substance | Found on toxicology |
|---|---|
| Cocaine | Detected |
| Sertraline (antidepressant) | Detected |
| Codeine | Detected |
| Quetiapine (antipsychotic) | Detected |
Dr Stephen Morley told the court the timing suggested cocaine use within one or two hours of death and outlined how the drug and sertraline can each increase the risk of an abnormal heart rhythm. The pre-existing cardiac disease meant Mr Pizzey was particularly susceptible to that risk, the inquest heard.
The coroner’s hearing focused on medical and toxicological evidence to establish cause of death. No further details of any inquest conclusion wording are included in the public reporting available; the findings will be of interest to colleagues at HMP Norwich, family and those concerned with occupational health in custodial services.
For the city, the case raises questions about staff welfare and the support available for prison officers who face demanding, unpredictable working patterns. While the inquest sets out how drug use and medication interacted with an existing heart condition to cause a fatal result, broader discussions about workplace mental health and access to confidential help remain live in many sectors, including the prison service.
Family members who spoke at the inquest emphasised the complex history behind Mr Pizzey’s drug use and mental health, and said they had noticed improvements in his mood in the weeks before his death. The coroner will file the formal record of the inquest in due course.
