AN unemployed labourer died of drug abuse, an inquest heard yesterday.
Stephen James Hutchinson, 33, had started smoking heroin before his father's death in 1999, the hearing at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court was told.
His brother, Lee, told Darlington and South Durham Coroner Colin Penna that Mr Hutchinson started injecting the drug and was regularly taking between £30 and £50 worth a day.
Mr Hutchinson was found dead at a guest house in Corporation Road, Darlington.
Dr Ceri Williams, consultant pathologist at Darlington Memorial Hospital, said a fatal level of morphine was found in Mr Hutchinson's blood, probably the result of heroin use.
A verdict of death from durg abuse was recorded.
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