The parents of James Herbert criticise police

The family of a former public schoolboy who died after he was left naked on the floor of a police cell has criticised Avon and Somerset Police after an inquest into his death. James Herbert, 25, died almost three years ago after he was detained under the Mental Health Act by officers.

Mr Herbert, who started smoking cannabis as a teenager and also took cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, LSD and 'legal highs', was seen acting strangely in Bath Road, Wells on the evening of June 10, 2010.

He was restrained by police and placed in the back of patrol van and driven more than 27 miles to Yeovil police station before being carried on a blanket into a cell.

Following a three-week hearing at Wells Town Hall where an inquest jury heard from 34 witnesses and saw 30 written statements, a narrative verdict was returned by the panel.

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Herbert's parents, Tony Herbert and Barbara Montgomery, criticised police.

His parents revealed it was "many hours" before they were told of James's death.