A 25-YEAR-OLD man died from a drug overdose only two days after being released from prison, an inquest heard yesterday.

Andrew David Middlemiss served six weeks of a four-month sentence for theft at Holme House Prison, Stockton. He was released on Friday, November 30, last year.

The next day he met friends in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and went to one of their flats to drink beer and inject heroin.

The group of three sat around talking before two went to bed and left Middlemiss, known as Amos, alone to sleep on the couch.

In the early hours of Sunday one of them woke and found Middlemiss with vomit on his face. He called for an ambulance, but medics were unable to revive him.

Consultant pathologist Dr Don Senadhira said a combination of heroin and Ecstasy caused the death. Dr Senadhira said that while in custody Middlemiss's tolerance level dropped so his body could not handle the drugs.

Darlington and South Durham Coroner Colin Penna, sitting at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court, recorded a verdict of death due to drugs misuse.

Parents John and Eileen, who adopted Middlemiss when he was eight weeks old, said they hoped their son's death would deter other people from drug abuse.