A former professional rugby league player was discovered dead in a hotel room in Florence following what an inquest has described as a tragic sequence of drug and alcohol abuse, violent confrontation, and deteriorating mental health.
The hearing was told he had assaulted his girlfriend shortly before his death while under the influence of cocaine and alcohol.
The case of 40-year-old Ricky Bibey, a father-of-three from Oldham, has now concluded with an open verdict after evidence was heard about the events leading up to his final moments in Italy.
Body Discovered in Luxury Florence Hotel
Bibey’s naked body was found on July 16, 2022, inside a room at the Continentale Hotel, located near Florence’s iconic Ponte Vecchio.
Emergency services were called to the scene, where he was later pronounced dead.
A post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death was neck compression.
However, investigators were unable to determine definitively whether the injury was self-inflicted or caused by another party.
A Relationship Marked by Turmoil and Addiction
The inquest at Rochdale Coroners’ Court heard that Bibey’s life after rugby had become increasingly unstable, with long-standing struggles involving substance misuse and mental health deterioration.
His on-off partner, estate agent Jennie Platt, described a relationship deeply affected by his addiction to drugs and alcohol.
She told the court that Bibey’s behaviour became unpredictable and erratic, particularly in the years following his retirement from professional sport.
Platt said she had travelled to Italy with him in an attempt to rebuild their relationship, despite earlier concerns about his worsening condition.
Drug Use and Escalation Before the Italy Trip
Evidence presented at the hearing revealed Bibey had recently undergone multiple rounds of rehabilitation treatment, including support from the Sporting Chance clinic, a charity founded to help athletes dealing with addiction.
Despite these interventions and additional private rehab funded by his father, he repeatedly relapsed.
Platt told the inquest that in the days before travelling to Florence, his behaviour had deteriorated sharply, including what she described as a “bender” involving drugs and alcohol.
She also recalled a disturbing moment when Bibey showed her a noose in his flat, which influenced her decision to proceed with the trip.
Violence Inside the Hotel Room
Once in Florence, the court heard the couple went out drinking before returning to their hotel room, where Bibey consumed more alcohol and used cocaine.
Platt said she confronted him after hearing him snorting drugs in the room.
The situation escalated into a violent confrontation after she attempted to sleep separately in the bathroom.
She described Bibey’s behaviour as drastically changed, saying he appeared “glazed” and “like a demon” when he re-entered the room during the argument.
According to her testimony, he prevented her from leaving, and a physical struggle followed in which she fought to defend herself while trying to escape.
Life-Threatening Injuries and Loss of Consciousness
Platt told the inquest she was overpowered during the struggle and lost consciousness, recalling only her “last breath” before waking up on the bathroom floor.
When she regained awareness, she found Bibey unresponsive, hanging with a ligature around his neck.
She attempted CPR before seeking help from nearby hotel guests.
She was later taken to hospital, where she underwent intensive treatment for severe injuries.
Medical experts said her condition was so serious she was unable to speak to police for a week.
Police Investigation and Early Suspicion
Italian police initially treated the incident as a potential homicide and interviewed Platt as a suspect.
However, investigators later ruled out her involvement, concluding she was physically incapable of inflicting the fatal injuries due to her own trauma and condition.
Authorities in Florence eventually closed their investigation without taking action against her.
Medical Findings and Toxicology Results
A second post-mortem carried out in the UK confirmed the cause of death as neck compression, consistent with Italian findings.
However, the pathologist noted complications due to prior organ removal for analysis abroad.
Examinations revealed multiple injuries, including bruising to the scalp, abrasions across the body, and marks on the wrist and hands.
Toxicology tests showed cocaine in Bibey’s system, alongside evidence of alcohol consumption.
Experts said the injury pattern was unusual and did not clearly align with typical cases of self-suspension, but they could not determine how the neck compression occurred.
Coroner’s Conclusion and Open Verdict
Assistant coroner Lisa Judge recorded an open verdict, stating that while evidence suggested Bibey had placed the ligature himself, it was not possible to determine whether he intended to end his life.
She noted that his behaviour had significantly changed due to substance misuse and that he appeared confused and unstable in the hours leading up to his death.
The coroner also accepted Platt’s account of events and concluded her injuries were consistent with serious self-defence during a violent incident.
Career Legacy and Family Tribute
Bibey had a successful rugby league career, playing for clubs including Wigan Warriors, St Helens, Leigh Centurions, and Wakefield Trinity, and winning the Challenge Cup twice.
His father described him as a naturally talented and hardworking athlete whose life changed after a ruptured Achilles tendon forced early retirement.
He was remembered by family as a “happy-go-lucky” child with a strong work ethic and a personality that endeared him to those around him.
Final Findings
The coroner concluded that Bibey had been struggling significantly after leaving professional sport, which had previously provided structure and purpose in his life.
Drug and alcohol use, she said, had a major impact on his behaviour and judgement in his final days.
