A HAMPSHIRE man who was struggling to beat his drug addiction died fromanaccidental overdose, aninquest at Southampton coroner’s court heard.

Francis Pearse had a history of drug abusebut after leavingprisonin2009he had managed to stay clean and work regularly as a self-employed boat builder.

However, when workstarted to dryup it sent the 31-year-old into a downward spiral.

The day before his death, Mr Pearse, who lived in an out-building on the same property as his mother, Karen, in Jealous Holdings, Coxhill, Boldre, admittedtoherhe wasbackusingheroin. When she asked to have the remainder of his supplyhe refused and saidhe would finish the last bit and give it up.

It was the next morning, on November 21 last year, at 5am, that Ms Pearse found her son dead on the bathroom floor.

Deputy Coroner Gordon Denson said he was “entirely satisfied” that Mr Pearse had not intentionally taken his own life, despite his history of depression, and recorded a verdict of death due to non-dependent drug abuse.