The man who found James Bulger's body very likely swallowed packages of drugs before his death in custody, an inquest found.
James Riley, 44, was arrested on suspicion of drug offences near Chapel Gardens, Liverpool, on March 14, 2023.
The man, who had been confined in a cell overnight, was found lying on the floor and later pronounced dead at Royal Liverpool University Hospital the next evening.
His cause of death was cocaine and heroin toxicity, senior coroner Andre Rebello concluded at a jury inquest held at the Gerard Majella courthouse in Kirkdale.
Mr Riley had endured an 'extremely traumatic incident' as a teenager, in which he found the body of murdered toddler James, the Liverpool Echo revealed after the inquest.
