Student was 'glowing' with a bright new future when he arrived in Manchester - weeks later he was dead

A student who appeared to be overcoming a history of drug use and mental health problems was found hanged in his halls of residence, an inquest was told.

Stanley Gula, 19, from Nottingham, was 'glowing' soon after he arrived in Manchester in September 2023 to study a BA honours degree in multimedia journalism at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), according to his mother.

He hadn't taken drugs for more than a year was so happy that he said he had to 'pinch himself', said his mother. But he was found dead in his room at Birley halls of residence in Hulme on November 26, 2023, the inquest at Manchester Coroners' Court was told.

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Pathologist Lisa Barker, in a statement read out in court, concluded Stanley died from 'hanging', adding that toxicology tests revealed the presence of alcohol, caffeine and nicotine in his system. Some 175mg of alcohol was found in his blood. The legal limit for driving is 80mg.

Joe Rennie, academic registrar at MMU, said in a statement there was no record of Stanley engaging with support services while he was at the university and the student did not state he had a mental health condition on his UCAS application, although the inquest heard there was 'no requirement' to disclose this.

Mr Rennie indicated references had showed the student 'had shown great strength and overcame personal challenges' before he arrived at university although there was no concern about his welfare prior to his death.

He revealed MMU security team responded to an incident at around 3am of November 26 when a fire alarm was set off in halls adjacent to where Stanley was living. They were told it had been set off 'accidentally', according to Mr Rennie. Stanley had been visiting a friend and was alleged to have set off the alarm and then been involved in an 'altercation' with other students, said Mr Rennie, although he went on it had not been possible to verify these allegations.

At 7.28pm that day, after concerns that nobody had seen Stanley, security officers broke into his room and found him dead, the inquest was told.

Stanley's girlfriend Eleanor Dunk, in a statement read out at the inquest, said she had known him for about three months prior to his death, both enrolling on the same course. The pair 'became close' and Stanley revealed he had received help for his drinking and drug-taking, according to Ms Dunk.

The witness also went on that she was aware Stanley had previously suffered with his mental health and had self-harmed. He had expressed concern about whether he would be able to cope with course work and had started to self-harm, although his mental health appeared to improve and he became more confident around others, said Ms Dunk.

She described him as a 'bit of a lightweight' drinker and when he became drunk he became 'more paranoid', she said.

Detective Inspector Michelle Buchanan, of Greater Manchester Police, said in a statement read to the court that her investigation had revealed that Stanley had gone to the pub with friends on the evening of November 25. He mentioned self-harm and suicide to his friends although they did not believe he would act on his comments, according to the officer.

When paramedics went into his room and confirmed he was dead, they found a notebook with entries which indicated he was 'not happy' and that he had 'issues with substance addiction', according to DI Buchanan.

Stanley's mother Joanna Rosalind Hartley, in a statement read out in court, said her son, who had a brother, was born and raised in Nottingham. "He was a quiet child and never any trouble," she said.

Ms Hartley said she didn't think her son liked school much, adding that his reports revealed an able child but someone who lacked confidence and didn't push himself. He failed all but one of his GCSEs and struggled to cope during the covid lockdowns and with studying from home, she said, going that she believed this was where his troubles began.

He enrolled at college but 'barely left his room' and started smoking cannabis, said Ms Hartley. Her son became 'very distant' and Ms Hartley said she suspected he was using other drugs although a search of his room revealed nothing of concern.

She paid for driving lessons for her son and starting saving up for a car for him but he was 'more and more distant', she said. She recalled one occasion when Stanley turned up at her workplace and he had marks around his neck. She said she knew 'instantly' what he had been trying to do but did not think he would 'go through with it'.

Her son admitted he had become addicted to benzodiazepines, drugs used to treat anxiety, said Ms Hartley. His then girlfriend left him because she was 'fed up' with his drug-taking, the court heard.

He was prescribed antidepressants and received counselling. He would go drug free for 30 days and then 'relapse', said Ms Hartley. His 'drug of choice' became cocaine, she said. She recalled her son checked into a Premier Inn where he spent 'a couple of days' drinking and taking cocaine.

She said her son 'loved' living in Manchester and by the time he arrived in the city he had not taken drugs or booze for more than a year. He was 'excited' about his future. He was 'kind and considerate' and had a 'peaceful soul', said Ms Hartley, who said she had never seen her son get angry. He taught himself the guitar, was a talented photographer and loved films, she said.

Her son was 'quite spiritual' and had visited Stonehenge the summer before he enrolled at MMU. Six weeks into his new life in Manchester, she visited her son who was 'glowing', she said. Her son told her he was so happy that he said he had to 'pinch himself' although he remained worried he might slip back into drug taking.

Ms Hartley said she visited her son on November 24 to attend a gig and giver her son a present of shampoo and shower gel to last until the end of term, a birthday present he had requested. She also gave him an advent calendar. She said she had no concerns about his welfare during her visits to Manchester.

However, she said her son's tolerance to alcohol would be 'zero compared to others' with him. She criticised a 'lack of responsibility from others around Stanley'.

Area Coroner Paul Appleton said he had 'insufficient evidence' to record a verdict of suicide. Recording a narrative conclusion, he said Stanley 'died as a result of hanging - it's not possible to determine his intentions at the time he died'.

In a statement released shortly after his death, Stanley's family described him as 'effortlessly cool' and 'extremely passionate about the things he cared about,' adding he had 'so many plans and aspirations for the future'.

The statement said: "For those who grew up with him or knew him as recently as universiy, he was always someone to guarantee laughs, music, a genuine care for others, and an ever-present scent of coffee and cigarettes.

"Effortlessly cool, absolutely hilarious, the best fashion sense, and the strongest person we ever knew. Stanley was extremely passionate about the things he cared about - he helped the homeless where he could and dreamed of becoming a music journalist for years.

"Having made it into Manchester Metropolitan University to study the subject, he had so many plans and aspirations for the future. It was here that Stanley found his people and it will forever be heart-breaking to know of the potential we never got to see truly flourish."