Former Radio 1 DJ’s death ruled misadventure
Gay radio presenter Kevin Greening died as a result of a drugs overdose after a sex session involving bondage, an inquest has concluded.
Postmortem results on Greening, 44, indicate he had taken ecstasy and cocaine and suffered a heart attack.
The Westminster coroner, Paul Knapman, recorded a verdict of misadventure.
“He was found dead having indulged in unorthodox sexual behaviour involving restraint equipment and illegal drugs,” said Mr Knapman.
His body was discovered at an address in Wandsworth in December and a man was questioned by detectives on suspicion of murder and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. No charges were brought.
Mr Greening’s boyfriend, Sean Griffin, told the coroner’s court that on the day of his death the DJ had been in a leather sling attached to scaffolding at Mr Griffin’s flat.
“Kevin and I had a very happy and very vigorous sex life,” he said.
“It was not conventional by heterosexual norms perhaps but it was a sex life which was vigorous and imaginative and we enjoyed each other.”
Greening co-presented Zoe Ball’s breakfast show on Radio 1 between 1997 and 1998. He later worked on Radio 5 Live and Smooth Radio.
The openly gay presenter was part of the launch line-up of Virgin Radio in 1993. He transferred to Radio 1 within a year.
He was known for an irreverent style and created a number of fictional characters including a DJ called Raymond Sinclair.
After his death on December 29th last year, tributes were paid across the radio industry.
BBC Radio 5 Live’s Simon Mayo said:
“I only got to know him when he joined Radio 1 but it was quite clear that he was a fantastically bright individual. He had a great brain.
“He had a very, very dry sense of humour and he was quite shy really, sometimes embarrassed about having achieved the level of fame that he did have.
“Anyone who listened to his programmes could tell he was extremely bright, extremely clever.
“He was a fantastic example as to how much work should go into a programme. He was naturally gifted, and I frankly find it rather hard to believe that he’s not with us any more.”
