A 19-YEAR-OLD who suffered from epilepsy died after failing to take his medication, an inquest has heard.

Matthew Inger, of Heatherlands, Whitworth, was found dead in his bed on July 1.

Alan Hammonds, Matthew's stepfather, told the inquest held at Burnley Magistrates' Court: "He suffered from epilepsy and had a full fit every few months or so and had some spasms on a daily basis.

"He was prescribed medication by his doctor but he didn't like the side effects it had and didn't like taking them full stop.

"He only took them if we had a big enough go at him, then he would take them for a day or so and then it would be back to square one. If he took them they prevented him from having a fit but he was very strong willed.

"On June 30, he came home at about 10pm, we were in bed and he came in to ask if we were watching Sky because he wanted to turn it over. He came back in and asked for a bacon butty."

He added: "Matthew was in a very happy mood when he came home because he had just arranged his first date."

Richard Taylor, acting East Lancashire coroner, said toxicology reports showed that Matthew had not taken Epilim, a prescribed medication to control epilepsy.

He said: "There is no evidence that he has taken any of his medication which clearly shows he was overcome by a fit in the early hours of the morning. We had to be sure as to what happened which was an epileptic fit."

Mr Taylor recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.