Who knew of Jason's death?

The inquest into the death of Jason Lee, 29, heard that police were called after a court official called at his home in Shaw Street, Blackburn.

He saw Mr Lee sitting on the settee but was not able to get a response.

His father, John Lee, and brothers Alan and Lesley said they had heard that drinkers and drug addicts with whom the dead man associated had known he was dead the day before.

"That does concern me and I will be asking the police to carry out further inquiries," said Mr Singleton.

"I am concerned with the thought that others may have been present at the house and taken no action to assist or to bring this to the attention of the authorities."

The inquest heard that Mr Lee had died in September as a result of inhaling his own vomit after taking heroin and alcohol.

His brother, Leslie, of Kirkby Road, Blackburn, described Jason as a binge drinker who dabbled with drugs.

He had seen him at midday on the Saturday before his death and said he seemed happy.

Jason then went to see another brother Alan, of Higson Street. Alan said his brother left about 3pm and said he was going into town.

"I have since heard from a neighbour there were some lads at his house after midnight that night and they drove off in his car," said Alan.

The dead man's father, said he had been told that Jason had been drunk in the Dunne Horse on the Saturday.

" The alcoholics and the druggies that he knocked around with knew Jason was dead before the police did."

Mr Singleton said the evidence suggested that Jason had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol but the affects of that were beginning to wear off by the time of his death.

He had taken heroin but not at a level that would normally cause death.

"The two together would have affected his consciousness and in a state of semi-coma he inhaled his own vomit," said Mr Singleton who recorded a verdict of misadventure.

The medical cause of death was given as inhalation of vomit caused by alcohol and heroin toxicity.