Hiran Chauhan, 24, died following a fatal drug overdose. Image Credit: PA Images

A ‘paranoid and callous’ Salford man has been jailed for six years for his role in the ‘chem-sex’ drug-related death of a popular young chef.

Neil Cuckson,32, of Eccles Old Road, admitted he not only endangered the life of Hiran Chauhan, but also perverted the course of justice and supplied dangerous Class A and Class C drugs. He was jailed at Manchester Crown Court on Friday after the court heard he went out to work as normal for several days – leaving Hiran’s body in his flat.

Hiran died last July of a suspected fatal dosage of liquid ecstasy and crystal meth, administered by trainee store manager Cuckson.

Cuckson and Hiran, who lived in Seedley, Salford, met through the dating app Grindr. And on July 3rd, the two men met up and engaged in ‘chemsex’ –  sex whilst intoxicated by drugs.

Waking up to find Hiran lifeless, Cuckson kept the 24-year-old’s corpse in his flat for several days, going in and out to attend work.

The court heard that Cuckson later disposed of Hiran’s body in some woodland area near to Eccles Old Road. Two teenagers later found it heavily decomposed and wrapped in plastic.

Cuckson was soon arrested on suspicion of Hiran’s murder .

32-year-old Neil Cuckson has been jailed for 6 years for his involvement in the death of Hiran Chauhan

Prosecutor Michael Lavery said:”He told police that by the time he knew Hiran was dead he was panicking and that he was trying to cover up what had happened.”

Mr Lavery added that the post-mortem examination was hampered by the body’s severe decomposition.

Defending Cuckson, Michael James told the Court his client showed deep regret for his actions. “He understands he can never change what he did and he can never apologise enough to the family but he does show some real remorse.”

Judge Alan Conrad QC blasted Cuckson, saying:”To save your own skin, and to thwart a police investigation, you embarked on an elaborate plan to dispose of his body.”

In a personal statement, Huran’s sister said ‘What kind of individual thinks it’s normal to sleep next to a body for six days, wrap him up, buy a car to hide a body, drag a body across a road and dump a body in a field?

‘This is not normal and he deserves to suffer.’

Duncan Thorpe, Senior Investigating Officer for GMP’s Major Incident Team, branded Cuckson a ‘paranoid and callous man’ who caused ‘unnecessary suffering’.

He said: “It’s clear from the many tributes following his death that Hiran was a very popular and well-liked man.

“He was a friend to many, well-known around Manchester and for his career as a chef in the Norther Quarter. He will be sadly missed by friends, family and colleagues.

“Hiran could never have foreseen the dreadful consequences of visiting Cuckson that evening. It’s clear that Cuckson was the driving force behind the pair’s drug use that night – mixing and preparing narcotics that he plied to Hiran, who was relatively inexperienced in such matters.

“After realising Hiran was dead, Cuckson went to great lengths to attempt to conceal his body and avoid detection.

“These were the actions of a paranoid and callous man, who showed a complete disregard for the young man lying lifeless in his property.

“Why he did not contact emergency services immediately is beyond comprehension. His actions put Hiran’s family through a great deal of further stress and unnecessary suffering at what was already a dreadful time.”

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