A MOTHER claimed at an inquest that police tried to kill her son by forcing a condom filled with heroin into his mouth.

Gillian Pell told the hearing she feared officers had forced the condom into 18-year-old Gareth Brogden's mouth after bundling him into a police van.

But the jury was told officers had witnessed her son swallowing an object when they arrested him outside his home in Hartlepool.

Mr Brogden, who had a history of burglary, theft and joyriding offences, died 15 days after he was arrested on Valentine's Day, last year.

He died from severe brain damage caused when he was starved of oxygen by the condom, lodged in his larynx.

He had been arrested by police in connection with a road crash.

He was taken to Hartlepool police station, but collapsed and was taken to Hartlepool General Hospital.

Mr Brogden, of Annandale Crescent, Hartlepool, was put on a life support machine, but never regained consciousness.

Home Office pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper told the hearing that death had been due to severe brain damage, after Mr Brogden had been starved of oxygen.

He said a post-mortem examination also revealed that the teenager had also taken heroin, cannabis and possibly tranquilisers at some time before his arrest.

On the night of his arrest, Mrs Pell said that although she had not seen her son being assaulted by police, she feared he might be.

When coroner Malcolm Donnelly asked her if she thought police had forced the condom down her son's throat, she replied: "Yes."

Mr Donnelly asked: "Do you believe police officers deliberately tried to kill Gareth." Mrs Pell said: "yes, I do."

The inquest continues.