A LETHAL cocktail of drink and drugs killed a man as he slept, an inquest heard.

The hearing was told that Stephen Boulger, also known as Stephen Snell, had worked hard to kick his drugs habit and turned to a health and fitness regime.

But he admitted he had taken methadone and another drug when he visited his girlfriend Michelle Pickles on March 9 this year.

He fell asleep at her house in Burnley Road, Brierfield, and was found dead by her the next day.

A post-mortem examination revealed Stephen, 30, of Bright Street, Colne, had alcohol, methadone and amphetamine in his system. The amounts were relatively small but the combination was deadly.

Mr Boulger's mother, Patricia Snell, also of Bright Street, said her son tried to take an overdose of tablets five years ago because of depression. He later met Miss Pickles and lived with her for a while.

"When he came to live with me he made a big effort to kick drugs," said Mrs Snell. "Before that he was injecting but then he gave up drugs, drinking and even smoking. He started going to the gym and exercising and eating healthily."

Miss Pickles said Mr Boulger arrived at her house about 8.30pm and told her he had taken some methadone and another drug, but he did not say what. They talked until about 11pm and then went to sleep in the living room.

"Next morning Stephen was just laid there," she said. "At first I thought he was asleep then I panicked and rang for the ambulance."

Paramedics tried to resuscitate Mr Boulger but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

East Lancashire coroner David Smith said: "It's quite clear that he had made an attempt to break his previous habit of taking drugs. It is also clear there was no intention to end his own life."

A verdict of misadventure was recorded.

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