A CUSTODY sergeant realised something was wrong with a grandfather brought in to a police station after his arrest because he appeared grey and his lips were blue, a jury heard today (Monday October 29).

Sergeant Jack Clark, who immediately went to call an ambulance, said he could not tell whether Lenny McCourt was breathing at the time.

Mr McCourt, had been pepper sprayed twice during his arrest for being drunk and disorderly outside his home in Ash Crescent Seaham, County Durham, an inquest in Crook has been told.

The 44-year-old was certified dead about half an hour after he arrived at Peterlee Police Station, on September 11, 2010.

Paramedics had spent 20 minutes trying to revive him on the floor of the van docking area.

Sgt Clark said when he first saw Mr McCourt, he initially thought he was sleeping, but soon realised something was wrong.

Said: “I could see he was handcuffed to the rear and his head was forward he looked grey and his lips were blue/purple. Something was wrong.

“There was no response from him. I lifted his head up and opened his left eye and there was no reaction from his pupils.

“I said I didn’t want him in custody. He wanted an ambulance.”

Sgt Clark, who immediately called an ambulance, said he was surprised that Mr McCourt still had his hands cuffed behind his back after five minutes.

He instructed PC Richard Clark (one of the arresting officers) to take them off, before helping to put McCourt in the recovery position.

Sgt Clark added: “I can remember shouting at him “wake yourself up”, to see if I could get a reaction. There was nothing there at all.”

Asked by Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle if he believed Mr McCourt was breathing when he arrived he replied: “I do not honestly know, sir.”

Sgt Clark began attempting to resuscitate Mr McCourt before the paramedics arrived.

A previous hearing was told Mr McCourt, who had a pre-existing heart problem, had died of heart failure precipitated the “sequence of events” on the day. While there were a number of contributory factors, experts were unable to pinpoint the cause.

The hearing continues.