Woman, 40, died after taking monkey dust days after Christmas, inquest hears

Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREEDo YOU have a story? Email Joshua.Haining@dailymail.co.uk See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 16:31 EDT, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 16:46 EDT, 30 August 2026 A 40-year-old woman died after taking Monkey Dust two days after Christmas.Natalie Doorbar was found dead at a home in Biddulph, Staffordshire, on December 27 last year, having used the synthetic drug.The 40-year-old, who is believed to have relapsed, was last seen by her family on Christmas Day having stopped taking drugs for six months.Ms Doorbar texted her mother on Boxing Day, telling her that she 'would be back soon' but she was found dead a day later following a 999 call made at around 12.30pm.One of the first responders to the property, PC Carly Statham, told the inquest: 'It was reported that Natalie was hot, sweaty with purple lips and breathing shallowly. 'The callers later reported that she was no longer breathing.'PC Statham added that there were four others at the property at the time of Ms Doorbar's death all of whom were 'engaging in drug-taking behaviour'.She continued: 'I was told that they had purchased an eighth of monkey dust that morning. That is what they were all taking.' Natalie Doorbar was found dead at a home in Biddulph, Staffordshire, on December 27 last year, having used the synthetic drug, monkey dustMs Doorbar had withdrawn £100 from her bank account earlier in the day, the inquest heard. Police discovered burnt pieces of foil and seized a number of small bags containing Monkey Dust at the property.A toxicology report found that Ms Doorbar had Monkey Dust, cocaine, THC and diazepam in her system at the time of her death.Ms Doorbar had used drugs from an early age, starting during a relationship while she worked as a hairdresser. After returning to the family home while in the midst of drug addiction, Ms Doorbar's mother recorded her 'under the influence' and showed it to her daughter.Having seen the footage, Ms Doorbar apologised and swore that she would not use drugs again.Ms Doorbar's mother told the inquest that after quitting drugs her daughter 'went back to her happy normal self again.''She stuck to her word and didn't take any drugs,' she said. 'We had Christmas dinner together. 'She was the happiest I've seen her in years. Then she got herself ready and went out. That was the last time we saw her.'Dr Mark Stefan told the inquest that Ms Doorbar's death was due to the effects of MD-PHP 'which is the common active ingredient in monkey dust.'He added that the cause of death 'was probably cardiac arrest' while Coroner Fiona Gingell concluded that Ms Doorbar's death was drug-related.'There's no dispute that she had a history of using illicit drugs. But she had been on a better path for the last six months,' she said. 'There is always a significant risk and danger each time someone uses them. I'm satisfied that she took monkey dust of her own free will. 'It was accidental. She used these drugs and sadly died as a result.'Biddulph is just a 20 minute drive from Stoke-on-Trent, considered the monkey dust capital of Britain.Hundreds of people live in the northern town addicted to the cheap, synthetic and very powerful drug.The substance is so powerful that local addicts have nicknamed Stoke, 'Dust Central'. What is Monkey Dust? Monkey Dust is the street name given to synthetic cathinonesIt was originally sold for £2-a-hit but it is now for £10 or more The drug is designed to mimic the effects of stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines or MDMAThey were first created in laboratories to avoid existing drug laws and still act like stimulantsUsers were attracted to the substance for its effects which include euphoria and alertness for a lower price than other black market drugsIn 2010, the government classified Monkey Dust under Class B of the Misuse of Drugs ActPossession and supply have since been illegal and both carry the risk of a prison sentence United Kingdom Addiction Treatment Centres (UKAT)