Sandra Adams, a grieving mother from County Durham, is planning to protest outside a courthouse in Vera, Spain, in August to demand the reopening of her son's death investigation. Brett Dryden, 35, was found dead in his home in Mojacar, on the Costa De Almeria, in July 2024, with a four-inch head wound and covered in blood. CCTV footage showed two masked men fleeing the villa carrying bags, and Brett's phone, designer Gucci glasses, and cash were missing. Despite these findings, Spanish authorities concluded that Brett died of a blood clot, and the Guardia Civil closed the case.
Mother's instinct and second autopsy
Sandra, 56, from Chester-le-Street, said: "I went in to view his body and saw his head, and thought, that's not natural causes. It's a mother's instinct, I know in my heart. I want justice for my son - and I want someone to be held accountable for his death." A second autopsy conducted in the UK by Dr Nigel Cooper, a Home Office pathologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, found injuries "consistent with having been assaulted," contradicting the Spanish findings.
Protest plans and legal hurdles
To comply with Spanish law, Sandra and her lawyer must apply for a licence to protest. She stated: "It is shocking that it has had to get to this point, but I feel like I have no choice. I want justice, someone needs to be held accountable. I will never stop, it's the only thing that keeps me going." Sandra believes the Spanish authorities dismissed the case because they saw Brett as "broken," but she remains determined: "I am still broken, but my love for Brett makes me stronger."
Brett's life in Spain and the night of his death
Brett, a former Nissan factory worker, moved to Spain in 2019 and ran a successful legal cannabis club called The Dawg House. Sandra last spoke to him hours before his death, and he appeared happy. After finishing her shift at 10pm, her partner Rob broke the news, and they flew to Spain the next morning. Sandra received a mysterious call from Brett's number, which she believes was from the thieves, but police took no action to recover the phone, which was traced to a traveller camp near Vera.
Ongoing fight for justice
Sandra maintains that Brett's death is suspicious, noting that his XL bully Lila did not protect him, suggesting the attacker was known to him. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities." The Guardia Civil have been contacted for comment. Sandra added: "It is soul destroying, a loss like this is on another level. I am not the same person I was before, I look in the mirror and don't see myself anymore. But, I plod on for Brett and for his seven-year-old daughter Charley. She misses her dad terribly."
