Tragic TV presenter 'was let down'

A Shropshire strongman today accused the British legal system of playing a major role in the death of his close friend, tragic TV presenter Mark Speight.Stuart "Goldcrusher" Goldsmith, a Shrewsbury-based nightclub doorman who also runs a talent management and fashion business in the town, said Mr Speight had been "let down by the legal system and the police".

The body of the children's TV presenter was found at Paddington railway station in London at the weekend.

Friends said he never recovered from the death of his girlfriend Natasha Collins, who died from a drug overdose at their flat in January.

A coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. She had taken cocaine and sleeping tablets and suffered hot water burns covering 60 per cent of her body.

Mr Speight was initially arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying class A drugs, but no charges were brought.

Mr Goldsmith, a familiar face on the door of Shrewsbury's Liquid and Diva nightclubs, said: "Mark was pulled in and questioned on Natasha's death and from there, when the police were bringing no charges, there was nothing in the system out there to help him.

"He was a close pal. A brilliant TV presenter and a fine friend, but once the charges were dropped, the system let him down. He was in desperate need of help but there was nothing to support him."

A post-mortem examination is to be carried out on the body of Wolverhampton-born Mr Speight as police continued to explore the 42-year-old's last movements.