Man who fed drugs to girl, 4, died of lung cancer
Humberside PoliceA man who fed drugs to his former partner's four-year-old daughter before her death died from "advanced lung cancer", an inquest has heard.
John Rytting, 49, was jailed in 2017 for child cruelty and supplying drugs after Poppy Widdison collapsed at her home in Grimsby and later died in hospital from a cardiac arrest in June 2013.
At a preliminary hearing at Hull Coroner's Court earlier, area coroner Lorraine Harris recorded that Rytting died in Castle Hill Hospital, East Yorkshire, on 22 April.
A full inquest will be held at a later date.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman confirmed on Friday that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding Rytting's death.
Rytting had been serving a 13-year jail term at HMP Hull. Poppy's mother, Michala Pyke, was also jailed for the same offences.
Humberside PoliceA trial at Hull Crown Court heard Rytting and Pyke encouraged Poppy to eat sedatives because they felt she was an inconvenience to their relationship.
A post-mortem examination found Poppy had ingested a variety of drugs for up to six months before her death, including significant amounts of heroin, diazepam, methadone and ketamine.
They did not contribute to Poppy's death but experts told jurors there was a "long period of ill-treatment and neglect by the grossly inappropriate administration of various drugs to the child".
A serious case review into Poppy's death also found agencies had missed several chances to protect her.
The review found council services did not know the extent to which "she was exposed to risk and harm" on a daily basis.
Listen to highlights from Hull and East YorkshireorLincolnshireon BBC Sounds, watch thelatest episode of Look North.
Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices
