A YOUNG man with a "chequered past" died after taking a lethal amount of heroin an inquest has heard.

Christopher Andrew Simpson was just 31 when he was found dead at a house in Edward Street, in Spennymoor, on July 15.

At an inquest into his death at Crook Coroners Court yesterday, assistant coroner Oliver Longstaff heard how Mr Simpson had been a persistent drug user but had recently been in rehab and not taken drugs for weeks.

Consultant pathologist, Anthony Sennehira said he found 552 microgrammes per litre of blood of morphine in his system leading him to return a cause of death as morphine (heroine) overdose.

Mr Simpson also had several superficial injuries but Dr Sennehira said none could have caused his death.

There was an investigation into the death but the police did not suspect any "foul play".

Tracy Simpson described her son as a "troubled soul on this earth".

Mr Longstaff returned a conclusion of accidental drug-related death.