THE mother of a tragic drug overdose victim cried as she heard the details of his death.

Lillian Dixon was the only person to attend the inquest into the death of her son Gary, who died after swigging methadone from a bottle following an all day drinking binge.

And after hearing a statement from Gary's girlfriend Mrs Dixon confessed she did not even know he was involved with anyone.

Gary, 32, was found dead at his flat in Douglas Place, Blackburn, by his girlfriend Ann Jones and Stephen McLaughlin, also of Douglas Place.

McLaughlin was jailed for 30 months when he appeared at Preston Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to supplying methadone to Gary.

In a statement read at the inquest Ann said her and Gary were alcoholics and would drink about six two litre bottles of strong cider a day.

On the day before he was found dead Ann said she had woken at Gary's flat at 10am. He had been up since 8am and had drunk some cider. They drank cider throughout the day and at 9pm McLaughlin came round.

Miss Jones said he had been there for 15 minutes when Gary asked for heroin. She said McLaughlin said he only had methadone, which he got on prescription, but Gary could not have any because he had been drinking.

The statement continued: "Gary swiped it out of his hand and necked it. I don't know if it was full or empty."

The following afternoon Miss Jones and McLaughlin walked to Gary's and found him dead.

Mrs Dixon told the inquest Gary had not started taking drugs until the last few weeks of his life, but alcohol had been a long-standing problem. About the same time as he started taking drugs a friend, David Cookson, had committed suicide and Gary had taken it badly, she said.

The inquest heard Gary swallowed his own vomit as he lay in a drug and drink induced coma.

Recording a verdict of misadventure coroner Michael Singleton said the circumstances of Gary's death had been "tawdry".

"Your son has paid the ultimate price for his stupidity," said Mr Singleton. "There's nothing I can say to take away your pain. All I can do is say how sorry I am."