A MOTHER of two died after choking on a small plastic bag of drugs she swallowed in view of police, an inquest heard.

Police had been following Kelly Pearson, 36, because they were “concerned she was involved in a drugs deal” and went to arrest her in Lavender Street, Brighton.

But officers ended up giving her abdominal thrusts to try and dislodge the blockage from her airways when she started choking, her inquest at Brighton County Court heard as it opened yesterday.

Police are due to give evidence on Wednesday about their interactions with Miss Pearson on February 17, which also sparked an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Paramedics also tried to save Miss Pearson on the street and the blockage was eventually removed. But she died three days later in hospital after suffering severe brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen.

A post mortem found two wraps of crack cocaine in her stomach and one in her oesophagus, jurors heard.

Miss Pearson, of Essex Road, Brighton, was dependant on heroin and alcohol, the court heard. Her mental health nurse, Simon Williams, said she was honest about her drug use and they “had quite a good therapeutic and open relationship”.

Medical experts said the combination of relatively small amounts of morphine, alcohol and diazepam, found in her blood, may have made choking more likely, by depressing her natural reflexes.

Pathologist Dr Olaf Biedrzycki said: “I think it is more likely than not on the balance of probabilities that they are a significant factor in placing her at risk of choking.” He added that a black eye she sustained that day could have been caused by her falling unconscious to the ground or other non-specific injuries.

Dr Biedrzycki said that there was no evidence that Miss Pearson had been beaten up by police, as one witness had said.

The inquest, which is due to last until Friday, continues.