Popular Devon pub manager and musician died at home

Karl Stewart has sadly passed away
-Credit:Liam Stewart


A well-known pub manager and punk musician was unexpectedly found passed away at home having taken an excess of prescription drugs, an inquest has heard.

Dad-of-three Karl Stewart, who was the manager of the Rose and Crown in Yealmpton, had last been seen in bed when his son and girlfriend left his home in Yealmpton in the afternoon of October 5, 2022.

When his son returned around four hours later, the 58-year-old was still in bed but was unresponsive and could not be revived. An inquest at Exeter Coroner’s Court, held on January 28, heard he had been struggling with his mental health in the months before his death due to work issues and had been signed off work.

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His son, who lived with him, said in a statement: "He was not exactly the happiest of people and that had been the case for several years but it didn't appear to be for any specific reason."

He described how Mr Stewart 'loved' working full-time at the pub where he also worked and said: "He was a work dad for everyone."

Recalling how when he last saw his dad on October 5, he said: "Dad was in bed. I didn't consider this to be strange. While it was unusual, I didn't think anything was wrong and just presumed he was tired."

The Rose and Crown , Yealmpton
The Rose and Crown , Yealmpton -Credit:Penny Cross

He said he left a note for him on the side to say where he had gone and when he returned it remained in the same place. He added: "In the weeks leading up to his death, there was nothing to suggest anything out of the normal in his behaviour."

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Mr Stewart's GP confirmed he had a history of anxiety, depression, drinking alcohol to excess and osteoarthritis. He was said to have called the surgery in August 2022, requesting an urgent telephone appointment and said he was having a work-related mental breakdown.

He was signed off work, prescribed anti-depressants, and was receiving support from a counsellor. During a consultation four weeks later he reported feeling better.

A police investigation into his death confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances. It was noted that his death had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because he had been in police custody in the days before his death. No further details were provided.

A post-mortem examination confirmed Mr Stewart had taken a quantity of prescription drugs within the lethal range. The cause of his death was drug misuse alongside coronary artery disease.

Recording a conclusion of drug related death, Alison Longhorn, area coroner for Devon, said: "I cannot be sure one way or another whether he took the drugs knowing they may cause significant harm or kill him, or took them accidentally not realising what the consequences would be."

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Following his death, loving tributes were paid. It was noted he was known by the nickname Bugsy and moved to the Modbury area in the '90s from Luton.

A keen music lover, he was very well known in the punk-rock world due to being in The Rattle Snakes band, which formed in the '80s in Luton. He was also the frontman of the Diamond Geezers band and left in late 2012.

Karl's sister and 'best friend' Kirstie Myers last year launched a GoFundMe to raise money towards funeral costs. Kirstie previously wrote: "Karl (Bugsy) was my brother. He was the most loving, caring, and kind man I have ever known. I have always been proud to be his little sister.

"It has taken his untimely death to see how many people actually cared for and loved him. I only wish he had known how loved he was."