A 28-YEAR-old who had been abusing alcohol since the age of 14 died from a lethal cocktail of alcohol and heroin.

An inquest heard that by the time Mark Shorrock was 17 he was drinking four litres of cider a day as well as abusing a variety of drugs, including amphetamine and diazipan.

He had a history of self-harm, including slashing his wrists with a razor blade and swallowing fish hooks and razor blades and claimed to have been sexually abused while in care between the ages of nine and 16.

His tragic life eventually ended in a room at the Cherry Tree Guest House, Islington, Blackburn, when he took heroin after an all-day drinking session.

When the inquest originally opened, two men, John Smith and Kevin Buckley, who were with Mr Shorrock when he died, had failed to attend and the inquest was adjourned for them to be summoned. Both, described in court as alcoholics, attended the reconvened inquest and gave evidence about Mr Shorrock's final day.

John Smith, also of the Cherry Tree Guest House, said he had left the guest house at 9am with Mr Buckley and at that time Mr Shorrock was in the lounge drinking.

Mr Smith said that when he and Mr Buckley returned at night the three of them injected heroin.

"I have been told since by two people that Mark had already injected himself that day," said Mr Smith. "If I had known that I would have looked after him. I would not have let him inject that heroin."

Asked by coroner Andre Rebello whether he still used drugs, Mr Smith said: "I don't touch it any more. I still drink, I have had a drink today, otherwise I could not have come." Kevin Buckley told the inquest he did not know how much heroin Mr Buckley had taken because he had turned his back on him.

"He sat on the bed and just keeled over," said Mr Buckley.

The inquest heard that both Mr Smith and Mr Buckley had been arrested, but there had been insufficient evidence to prove that either man played any part in the death of Mr Shorrock.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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