SEX OFFENDER TOMMY LEE CONWAY FOUND DEAD IN NORWICH FLAT
A convicted sex offender who battled severe mental illness and drug misuse for years was found dead in his Norwich flat after taking his own life, an inquest has heard.Tommy Lee Conway, 28, died at his home in Yarmouth Road on September 29 last year.
Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard he carried out a deliberate act intending to end his life following a long history of mental health crises, substance addiction and previous suicide attempts.
Recording a conclusion of suicide by hanging, coroner Robin Weyell said Conway had acted intentionally.
The court heard Conway had moved into the flat where he was found dead shortly after being released from HMP Bure in June 2025, following a three-year sentence.
He had also previously served time for his part in a highly publicised sex crime.
In 2016, Conway was convicted of sexual assault at Maidstone Crown Court in connection with an incident in which an unconscious young woman was attacked at a house party.
Two other men were convicted of rape in the same case.
Conway, who filmed the assault and was heard asking for "his turn", was sentenced to two years and five months in custody.
Despite his criminal past, Conway maintained close relationships with his mother and sister who continued to support him through ongoing mental health difficulties.
His sister described how much he relied on his mother, often calling her shortly after waking and regularly meeting to cook meals or go shopping together.
At other times, however, he would spend periods drinking or taking drugs with friends.
The court heard Conway often felt lost and suffered from anxiety, including separation anxiety when away from his mother.
He had also been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Recreational drug use worsened his condition, and attempts by his mother to stop him using substances sometimes led to anger and distress.
The inquest heard Conway had previously threatened to harm himself on multiple occasions, including threats to hang himself or set fire to his home.
On one occasion police intervened when he attempted to hang himself from a balcony, while in another incident officers found him with a bedsheet around his neck.
In September last year, police were called when Conway was seen walking into traffic outside his flat in Yarmouth Road, Norwich and threatening to pour petrol over himself.
Ambulance staff assessed him but concluded he had mental capacity, and he refused hospital treatment.
His neighbour Steven Treadaway told the inquest Conway seemed friendly and recalled him knocking on his door on September 28 asking for cigarettes and beer.
"I asked if he was OK and he said he was feeling down," Mr Treadaway said.
The following day Conway’s mother arrived at the property worried as she had been unable to contact her son after receiving texts in which he expressed suicidal thoughts.
Too frightened to enter his flat, she asked Mr Treadaway to check.
He described how furniture had been pushed against the flat door, and having to climb over it to get inside.
"I looked to the right and he was sitting on the floor against the kitchen units.
I knew he was dead and called 999," he said.
Emergency services were called but Conway was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was hanging.
Toxicology tests showed alcohol, MDMA, cocaine and synthetic opioid drugs in his system.
Despite the difficulties in his life, family members told the court Conway played an important part of the lives of those close to him.
He was described as a son, brother, uncle and father who, "despite his struggles, maintained strong family ties."
