Staffordshire father died after taking heroin overdose
A father died from an overdose after injecting himself with lethal amount of heroin, an inquest has heard.
Alastair Erskine, aged 51, died instantly after taking a large amount of the drug at a friend's house.
Further drug paraphernalia was also found by police at Mr Erskine's home in Allton Court, Tamworth, Staffordshire, following his death.
Cannock Coroner's Court heard how Mr Erskine had been out with a friend on October 30 and gone back to his house. But after his friend, who was also drug user, had fallen asleep Mr Erskine injected himself with a lethal amount of the drug.
The inquest heard an ambulance was called to the property in Alfred Street, Staffordshire, but he was pronounced at the scene.
Coroner Andrew Haigh said there was unlikely to be any third party involvement and recorded Mr Erskine had died from a 'drug-related death'.
Inspector Andy Chapman, speaking during Tuesday's inquest, said: "He was a recovering drug user and it does not look like anyone else administered the substance.
"The likelihood is Alastair injected himself and officers felt there was no other illegal behaviour of concern.
"The police investigation has not uncovered where Alastair got the drug from.
"Following further inquires there was no history of drug use in our records but after searching his address we did find evidence of recent drug use."
The inquest heard how Mr Erskine had been a drug user for a number of years but had recently been trying to kick the habit.
Mr Haigh said when the ambulance arrived on October 30, Mr Erskine was already dead.
He said: "The toxicology report showed Alastair died from a heroin overdose.
"It was too much for his body to cope with. There is no evidence of any third party involvement. On the balance of probability Alastair has injected himself with heroin, which has led to his death."
