A MAN died from a toxic cocktail of drugs the day after he was released from prison, an inquest has heard.

Darren Mills, 28, died from respiratory problems after falling into a coma.

He had injected heroin, taken valium and smoked cannabis at a friend's house in Darlington.

The quantity of drugs on their own would not have been toxic, but the combination proved fatal.

The Darlington inquest heard how Mr Mills, of Fenby Avenue, Darlington, died on February 2, 2002, shortly after he had been released from a six-month prison sentence.

An inquest on Tuesday, attended by Mr Mills' mother and father, heard evidence from Dr James Sunter, a forensic pathologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital, in Newcastle.

He said: "The amounts of the chemicals in his body were not especially high and do not suggest a deliberate overdose."

He said Mr Mills had fallen into a coma from the drugs, before he choked on his own vomit, which had led to pneumonia.

Witness statements from three of Mr Mills' friends, who were with him before he died, were read out.

The inquest heard Mr Mills had joined a group of drug-users at a house in Corporation Road, Darlington, where he injected and smoked heroin and smoked cannabis. He had also taken valium tablets and had been drinking.

Mr Mills slept overnight in the house and, during the night, a friend called from an ambulance because Mr Mills' had started making unusual gurgling noises.

Coroner Brenda Davidson, recording a verdict of misadventure, said: "We have seen how this situation has developed, I don't think he had any intention of harming himself, I think recreation is the key word."