A COUPLE forced their way into their son's bedroom and found him dead with a belt tied around his arm and a syringe in his arm, an inquest heard.

And at the opening of an inquest, East Lancashire Coroner David Smith said police inquiries were being carried out in an attempt to find out where 24-year-old Ian Wright had obtained the drugs.

Rene Wright of Ainsley Street, Burnley, said her son, a single man, worked as a carpet salesman.

He suffered from epilepsy for which he was receiving medication. He last had a fit about three months ago.

About three years ago while he was living away she became aware that he was taking heroin.

He returned home about 12 months ago and although he had sought help was still taking heroin and Methadone, a prescribed heroin substitute, sometimes by injection.

On Tuesday, April 20 he went out at 2pm. She later was told he had been to the Tim Bobbin pub in Padiham Road.

At about 6pm he returned home. He seemed quite cheery but looked tired and vague as he sometimes did after taking heroin.

He took some food to his bedroom and she did not see him again that day.

At 8am on Wednesday last week Mr Wright went to wake him but got no response. The bedroom door was locked.

He forced his way in and they found Ian on the bed fully dressed with a belt around his arm and a syringe in his arm.

Mr Smith said it had been necessary to send samples to Manchester for toxicology analysis which could take six to eight weeks.

He added: Until we get the result we cannot give a cause of death, it was probably drug-related but we do not know that.''

He adjourned the hearing until the test results are available.

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