Smethwick mother-of-three, 35, was found dead in her armchair

Emma Dawson, who was living with a friend at Rosefield Court, Rosefield Road, was found dead at her mother's home on Durham Drive, West Bromwich on August 8 last year.

A toxicology report revealed that Miss Dawson, who had three children – two boys aged 19 and 16, and a girl aged eight – had what could be considered fatal levels of methadone and alcohol in her bloodstream.

Coroner Kally Cheema gave a conclusion of a drug and alcohol-related death at in the inquest on Wednesday at Black Country Coroners Court, Jack Judge House, Halesowen Street, Oldbury.

Cause of death was confirmed as methadone and alcohol toxicity and alcohol induced liver disease.

Miss Dawson was found slumped in an armchair by her mother Hazel Hewitt, aged 66, at around 7.45am.

In a statement read by the coroner at the inquest, Mrs Hewitt said: "I saw Emma hadn't moved from the chair. She was usually up and about. I didn't expect to see her there. I saw that her legs looked a funny colour so I shook her to wake her up. Then I looked at her face and I knew she had passed."

Miss Dawson had turned up at her mother's house after being dropped off by the police on the evening of August 7.

The inquest revealed that Miss Dawson had various scratches and puncture wounds on her arms consistent with her having fallen into a rose bush. She was also 'intoxicated' when she arrived at her mother's home.

Speaking at the inquest, Detective Inspector Sean Russell of West Midlands Police said police were called to an address on Rosefield Court on August 7 after tenant Gary Hipkiss complained of Miss Dawson's violent conduct against him and his friend, Miss Dawson's former partner, Adrian Bill.

In a statement given to the police on August 8, Gary Hipkiss said how Miss Dawson had drunk four bottles of vodka - two full bottles and two half bottles, on August 7 and went from 'the nicest person to a wild animal.'

When Mr Bill arrived at the property, Hipkiss said at the inquest that 'it was like a red flag to a bull' for Miss Dawson who became aggressive, punching both men with 'full force with closed fists'.

After Mr Hipkiss called the police, officers attended the address and took Miss Dawson to her mother's home. She was pronounced dead by paramedics the next morning.