A FATHER with a serious drug habit was found face down in his bathroom following a house fire.

Steven Champley, a father-of-four, died a week after the blaze in his mother's house on Sycamore Avenue, Thornaby, in May, an inquest at Teesside Coroners Court heard yesterday.

The fire is believed to have taken hold in his small bedroom, where a lit cigarette possibly sparked the blaze. He died in James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough on May 24.

The 35-year-old was found to have diazepam, methadone and morphine in his system, which together would have made him "sleepy and drowsy", a post mortem examination found.

He told his sister, Vicky Clayton, that he had taken 35 'blues' – slang for diazepam tablets – the day before the fire.

She said she had spoken to him on May 16 – the day of the fire – and that he had sounded 'off his head'.

When she went round to visit him he was eating a yogurt while falling asleep, she said.

"I was gutted for him, because he had had a good few weeks," she added.

A statement from Mrs Clayton read out at the inquest said her brother was a long-term drug user, abusing heroin for some years, and before that crack cocaine

Smoke was seen coming from the house on the night of the fire, and Mrs Clayton said the 'upstairs curtains were black' as people banged on the door to try to rouse him before the fire brigade arrived.

Fire crews brought him out of the property and gave him life-saving treatment before he was taken to hospital.

But on May 24 he died from cerebral infarction – or a blockage of oxygen supply to the brain – due to a heart attack brought on by smoke inhalation.

The family dog also perished in the fire, and was found in the front bedroom – believed to be Mr Champley's mother's bedroom.

Police said there was no evidence of arson and that Steven was the only person present.

Teesside Coroner Claire Bailey said: "I accept the evidence that there were no signs of assault. There were no signs of a third party involved or suspicious circumstances.

"There was evidence that smoking had been taking place and that Steven was under the influence of drugs not long before the fire took place and ultimately claimed his life."

She said he had died as the result of a 'tragic accident".