FAMILY of a Felixstowe man who died in police custody are hoping today to finally find out what happened.

FAMILY of a Felixstowe man who died in police custody are hoping today to finally find out what happened.

It's been more than two years since Ian Snelling died - and his family have endured a harrowing ordeal since, having to cope with a lengthy investigation, waiting for reports and all the time not knowing how he died.

Mr Snelling, 51, of Manwick Road, Felixstowe, collapsed and died in a cell at the town's police station on September 1, 2006.

Two hours earlier he had been arrested at the VK1 off licence in Undercliff Road West on suspicion of theft.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) held an investigation into his death but decided no prosecutions would be brought against officers involved in the incident.

Mr Snelling's daughter Michelle said the inquest into his death was due to start today and is expected to last more than a week.

It had originally been scheduled for August but had to be postponed at the last minute after the family's barrister suffered a stroke.

She said the inquest would be hard but was determined to see it through.

“I just want to know what happened - it's been more than two years now and that is a long time,” she said.

“Hopefully, all our questions will be answered and we will get to the truth.”

Miss Snelling, 21, misses her father so much - they used to see each other almost every day.

She has described waiting for the inquest like being in limbo

“I just cannot move on - every day I am thinking about him and what happened and there are still reminders of his last day everywhere,” she said.

The IPCC, which managed the investigation into Mr Snelling's death, said following discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) during the course of the investigation, the CPS confirmed there will be no criminal charges brought against any member of Suffolk Constabulary.

IPCC Commissioner Len Jackson said the final report had been submitted to the coroner.

“At the conclusion of the inquest I will make known the full findings of this investigation. I will also be discussing what learning issues there are for Suffolk Constabulary to consider and how these will be implemented,” he said.

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