A DARWEN mother told an inquest how her her son, who regularly sniffed butane gas, phoned her the day before he was found dead with a plastic bag over his head at a southern seaside resort.

Burnley-born Barry Hargreaves, who had moved to find work in Clacton, had probably sniffed a canister of butane a day.

Mr Hargreaves, 28, who moved to Station Road, Clacton, a month before his death died on December 8.

PC Nick Waltham, coroner's officer for Tendring, said: "Last December a work colleague of Mr Hargreaves attended his home address as he had not arrived for work that morning. Upon their arrival they forced entry to the flat and found Mr Hargreaves apparently dead, laying on the floor of the flat."

An examination of the body by Dr Paul Conn at Colchester General Hospital showed the cause of death was butane poisoning and asphyxia.

Essex coroner Dr Malcolm Weir recorded a verdict of accidental death at an inquest at Weeley.

Mr Hargreaves had been in Clacton for a month and was working as a retailer at the Clacton Common shopping village.

PC Rob White, of Clacton Police, said he went to the address and found Mr Hargreaves on the floor with a plastic bag tied loosely around his head.

A search of the flat also showed about 32 empty canisters of butane gas, which are used for re-filling cigarette lighters.

PC White continued: "He had been in Clacton for about a month and I had to conclude he brought these in Clacton and he was using one a day which would be an awful lot."

Brenda Knowles, of Blackburn Road, Darwen, said her son was born in Burnley and had worked in retail menswear since leaving school but had been unemployed for two years.

She said she had spoken to her son the night before his death and he had told her he planned to see her and his son Christopher after Christmas.

Mrs Knowles said she knew of Mr Hargreaves' problem with butane but thought he had stopped.

Mr Weir said butane was a particularly "terrible" thing to be addicted to, but that nothing could be done to restrict its supply.

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