THE body of a man shot in the head was so badly decomposed it could only be identified through dental records and DNA, an inquest heard.

Mark Anthony Corley, 22, was killed and his body dumped in a field near Bolam, Darlington, before being discovered in December last year.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned yesterday at Darlington Magistrates Court.

Unemployed Mr Corley, of Walton Gardens, Grantham, Lincolnshire, had been reported missing last July.

He had convictions for drugs offences and burglary, and was known to have made enemies among the criminal fraternity.

The inquest heard that old dental records of Mr Corley's had been used to identify him, together with samples of DNA taken from his skeleton.

Dr Mark Egan, a forensic pathologist, who carried out an autopsy of the body, said the cause of death had been a shotgun wound to the head.

Mr Corley's body had laid outside on the ground for between three to nine months.

He said: "The damage from the shotgun wound would have proved fatal. There were no other injuries identified."

Detective Chief Inspector Tony White, of Lincolnshire Police, who led the investigation into Mr Corley's death, said that five men were awaiting trial on conspiracy to murder.

These include Robert Sutherland, 35, of Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, who is charged with the murder of Corley between July 7 and December 14.

All five are expected to appear at Nottingham Crown Court within the next fortnight and have yet to indicate a plea.

Darlington and South West Durham coroner Colin Penna adjourned the inquest for the completion of criminal proceedings. He granted release of the body so the funeral of Mr Corley could take place.