A FURIOUS coroner has blasted a motorised wheelchair salesman after he sold a chair to an 83-year-old Netherton woman, which ultimately led to her death.

Joan Lovell, who lived in Nethercrest Nursing Home, purchased a motorised wheelchair from Trevor Lewis of World of Mobility in Brettell Lane, Stourbridge.

The court heard how Mr Lewis was "almost certain" Mrs Lovell had signed the cheque for the wheelchair herself.

However Mrs Lovell's godson, Graham McDonald told the hearing he had been granted power of attorney, dealing with all her finances, but he was not consulted on the purchase.

He told the court, the elderly lady, had bad eye-sight and was not fit to write out a cheque by herself.

After buying the chair, the 83-year-old could not control it and kept bumping into walls.

On one occasion, she fell out of her chair, smashing a table as she fell.

She was taken to Russells Hall Hospital where she was treated for a broken hip.

After being discharged in September 2006, Mrs Lovell's condition deteriorated. She suffered from septicaemia following an infection from the operation wound and died on October 31 2006.

Her godson, Mr McDonald, said: "She had motorised chairs before at home but she couldn't operate them and I had to give them away.

"I don't know why I wasn't consulted about this purchase.

"She died a pretty bad death for a lady who should have been enjoying a peaceful few years".

Speaking at Dudley Coroners Court on February 27, Black Country Coroner, Robin Balmain told salesman Trevor Lewis: "Mrs Lovell was 83, couldn't walk and you made no enquires with the staff about her mental state.

"You didn't even know about her financial state.

"Some people might say that if you had asked questions when selling her the chair, you might have found something out which prevented a sale from taking place.

"Further enquires ought to have been made into whether this purchase should have taken place.

"It is quite clear she was not terribly good at using it, which appears to be what happened on the day of her accident.

"The fall is a contributing factor to her death, which happened because she was in possession of the wheelchair."