Porn star killed herself with GHB after partner accidentally overdosed

A porn star killed herself by overdosing on GHB just two weeks after her footballer boyfriend accidentally died from taking the same party drug, an inquest has heard.

Karen Cook, who modelled under the name Sophie Anderson, was found dead at a Travelodge hotel in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on November 30 2023.

A post-mortem examination found the 36-year-old had taken a quantity of drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate, often referred to as GHB or 'liquid ecstasy', which was 10 times the strength of a fatal dose, the inquest at Winchester heard. 

Ms Cook killed herself just two weeks after her partner of three years, Oliver Spedding, died after accidentally taking a dose of GHB which was three times the fatal level. 

The hearing heard that she had been found unconscious next to her dead partner, a former Crystal Palace youth footballer, on November 15 2023 after they both took the drug at a different hotel.

Mr Spedding, who had also become an adult film star, was found dead at the Days Inn Hotel, at the Winchester services on the M3, but Ms Cook survived on this occasion.

Two weeks later, the troubled porn star took her own life, Coroner Jason Pegg told the hearing. She was found dead on November 30 2023, wearing Mr Spedding's black Adidas t-shirt and black joggers.

The adult film star was so 'wracked' with grief after Mr Spedding, 34, overdosed she took her own life because she couldn't 'go on without him', it was heard. 

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She told a friend of Mr Spedding's soon after his death that she realised they had taken too much of the GHB and called 999 before passing out.

While paramedics were able to revive her, Mr Spedding could not be saved despite efforts to resuscitate him.

GHB is an odorless, colorless drug that combined with alcohol causes drowsiness. It is commonly known as the 'date rape' drug.

Mr Spedding had been on the books of Premier League side Crystal Palace as a teenager.

But after being jailed he was not offered a professional contract with the south London club and instead played for Croydon FC. He later became an adult film star where he met Cook.

Hampshire Coroner's Court in Winchester heard Mr Spedding and Ms Cook had checked into room 30 of the Days Inn hotel at Winchester Service station off the M3 motorway in November 2023.

She told police that they were both regular users of the GHB drug and had planned to take one last dosage before getting fit.

Nicholas Johnson, a friend of Mr Spedding, said he spoke with her on the phone prior to her suicide.

In evidence read out to the court, he said Ms Cook had told him they were going to take the drug one last time before cuddling up to watch football on TV.

Mr Johnson said Ms Cook had said she had poured the GHB but soon realised they had taken too much.

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She told Johnson they both felt weird and before passing out called 999. When police arrived they found the couple unresponsive on the bed.

A police officer who attended said he was able to revive Cook, but Mr Spedding's colour was grey and his lips cracked and blue.

The court heard police carried out CPR for 15 minutes before paramedics arrived. He was later pronounced dead.

A post-mortem showed that he had three times the fatal level of GHB in his system along with the drug diazepam. He had also drunk a small amount of alcohol.

The court was told the combination of drink and drugs had caused a respiratory problem.

In his statement, Mr Johnson said he was so close to Mr Spedding that he considered him a brother.

In his telephone conversation with Cook he said she told him she was upset over the death of her boyfriend and did not want to live.

An earlier inquest heard she was found dead at a Travelodge hotel in Basingstoke two weeks after Spedding's death.

When police spoke with Ms Cook, she told them they regularly took GHB at sex parties.

She also said they had been upping the dosage more frequently and would take the drug with a glass of Ribena.

The cause of death was listed as respiratory depression.

Members of Mr Spedding's family declined to attend the inquest.

Hampshire Coroner Jason Pegg recorded a verdict of misadventure and said Mr Spedding had not intended to take his own life.

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He said: 'They were regular users of GHB, using drug for many years and it seems to me knew how to use and how much to use.

'They were both alert to the fact not to take a dosage to cause harm.

'On this occasion Ms Cook dispensed the GHB into one cup and Ribena into another. She and Oliver were both willing to consume.

'It became apparent that they had taken too much of the drug. Karen Cook called 999 seeking an ambulance.

'A combination of drugs caused him to suffer deep sleep and this dreadful accident. There is no evidence he intended his life to end.'

The inquest heard that Ms Cook had been suffering 'anxiety' as a result of faulty breast implants which were affecting her ability to make a living.

In her final notes she asked to be buried in Mr Spedding's black tracksuit, saying that she was 'broken'.

She was 10 times the fatal limit of drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate, often referred to as GHB or 'liquid ecstasy', it was heard.

Mr Pegg today concluded Ms Cook died by suicide and said she was 'not happy' in her chosen field of work as a pornstar.

Ms Cook was also found with high levels of GHB in her system on the day of Mr Spedding's death.

It was heard the Southern Health NHS Trust initially believed that Mr Spedding and Ms Cook had taken drugs together as part of a 'suicide pact'.

But, Ms Cook denied this and said the overdose was 'accidental' and she 'must have measured out too much' of the drug.

Coroner Mr Pegg referred to notes from Ms Cook's GP.

It was said that the adult film star was suffering 'anxiety' due to problems with her breast implants.

In March 2022, Ms Cook launched a GoFundMe for 'reconstruction of breasts' and wrote that she had to have her implants removed after she was left with necrosis, the death of body tissue.

She said she suffered from sepsis four times in one year as a result of complications.

Referring to further medical evidence, Mr Pegg said that these 'failed breast implants' left her with 'weakness', and 'restricted movements'.

'[Reducing] her ability to earn a living in the field she made her money,' Mr Pegg added.

The inquest heard that on the day of her death, Ms Cook was found wearing a black Adidas t-shirt and black joggers, both of which belonged to Mr Spedding.

She was also found with a notebook in which she had written to her late partner.

Ms Cook's father, Paul Cook, said she was a 'caring and affectionate' person who was able to hide what was going on in her life.

'We know certain things must have been going on in relation to Karen,' he told the hearing.

'The last week I had with Karen, she was like her old self.'

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He said she was 'always into fitness' so it surprised him that she 'underwent plastic surgery'.

'She was a confident actress and as I said, she could hide all sorts of things and she pulled the wool over my eyes quite a lot,' he added.

Mr Cook said in her final week his daughter 'became very positive' and looked at sorting new accommodation in Maidenhead, Berkshire, and getting onto benefits.

The model's sister told the hearing Ms Cook was 'a very good actress' who did performing arts because 'playing someone else was always a lot easier for her than playing herself'.

She said after Mr Spedding died she 'knew what she would do' and tried to get Ms Cook sectioned.

But, this attempt was unsuccessful.

Concluding the inquest, Mr Pegg said: 'Karen was somebody who by way of personality, and indeed her chosen profession, an actress and it would appear from what I have heard that Karen was not happy in her chosen field.

'Clear evidence is that she was suffering from problems with breast implant that was affecting her work.'

Mr Pegg said that as part of Ms Cook and Mr Spedding's lives together they would frequently take GHB.

'On the 15th of November, 2023, Karen's partner died,' he continued.

'When he died, he died from a combination of alcohol and GHB. The GHB in Oliver's body at the time of his death was three times the fatal level.

'At the same time, Karen was also found. She did not die, unlike Oliver Spedding.

'On the evidence, it would appear that Karen was in great grief following the death of Oliver. She could not go on without Oliver when she died.'

Mr Pegg said when Ms Cook was assessed by Southern Health NHS Trust, she was 'able to conceal the fact she was thinking about taking her own life'.

The coroner said that on the evening of November 30 last year, she had 'consumed a substantial quantity of GHB'.

'The quantity found in her body was 10 times the recognised fatal dose of GHB,' he said.

'I am satisfied that Karen took her own life and no one forced her to take GHB.'

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