Accrington man's drugs death was an accident

11:41am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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A MAN found dead in a derelict substation was had accidentally taken a drug overdose, an inquest heard.

Stephen Trent, 32, had been on 24-hour release from a rehab centre in Coventry and had been due to meet family in Accrington on the day he died.

Instead the ex-soldier got off the train in Blackburn on March 26 and is thought to have met up with friends from a hostel where he used to stay.

He went to the shed-sized building at the substation where he took a fatal dose of heroin.

Mr Trent’s family told the inquest they knew he had alcohol problems but were not aware he had been into drugs.

He had been released from prison around five months before his death.

Pathologist Dr Richard Proctor said his time in prison may have reduced his intolerance to heroin.

Coroner Michael Singleton agreed and said he did not believe that Mr Trent had intended to kill himself.

A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded.