AN inquest has opened into the death of a man who was being held in police custody in Oldbury.

Christopher Morgan, aged 38, was found dead in a cell at the Oldbury Custody Suite, in Bromford Road, in the early hours of Thursday, September 20.

Black Country Coroners Court was told that Mr Morgan, from Walsall, was arrested during the afternoon of September 19 on suspicion of shoplifting and drugs possession.

After being seen by a doctor at the block on the Wednesday evening he was given medication, before being placed in a cell.

Officers were said to have checked on Mr Morgan at both midnight and 1am on the Thursday where he was described as “fine”, but when they went to see him at 2am he was unresponsive.

Paramedics were called and confirmed Mr Morgan was dead at the scene. A post mortem into his death was inconclusive.

Following the death, the Independent Police Complaints Commission were called to the custody suite to launch an investigation – which is currently ongoing.

The inquest heard police are struggling to track down family members of Mr Morgan, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent, and have so far only been able to make contact with an on/off partner.

Officers are urging anyone who may have information regarding Mr Morgan’s family to call 0121 569 7202.

Senior Black Country Coroner Zafar Siddique adjourned the inquest until November 21.