Son's relief as mum death charges are dropped
A man from Northampton who was accused of trying to murder his elderly mother by giving her a drugs overdose has spoken of his relief after all the charges against him were dropped.
James Bolton, of Harefield Road, Blackthorn, was investigated by detectives who suspected he had tampered with a syringe which automatically administered pain relief to his mother Sylvia, who was suffering from oesophageal cancer.
He was arrested after her death in July 2006 and charged with attempted murder in October that year, but maintained his innocence throughout and the charges were eventually dropped at Lincoln Crown Court last week due to a lack of evidence.
Mr Bolton, aged 47, said he was now considering taking legal action against the police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their handling of the case.
He added: "We are all glad that this is over and done with, and obviously it's a relief, but I'm absolutely disgusted that it ever got as far as it did.
"There was never any evidence that I'd done anything wrong, but the police seemed to ignore that.
"I had to take six months off work last year due to stress and the whole thing means my family and I have not been able to grieve for my mother.
"I am taking legal advice as to my next actions because the police and CPS handling of the case, in my opinion, can only be described at best as inept and at worst criminally negligent."
Mrs Bolton, aged 73, died on July 26, 2006, at the St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln with her husband and two sons at her bedside.
After travelling home to Northampton, Mr Bolton was called back to Lincoln to talk to police, who suspected he had been pressing a button on the syringe system to administer double the amount of drugs she should have been taking.
But he claimed evidence collected by the prosecution showed the system had been delivering the wrong quantities even when Mr Bolton was not actually present at the care home.
The father of three, who works for a financial services firm in Northampton, said: "I would like to thank all of my family and friends for their much-needed and appreciated support throughout this ordeal. It has been a very worrying and traumatic time for us all."
elizabeth.lee@northantsnews.co.uk
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