A FATAL prophecy came tragically true when teenage drug addict Joseph Bridge spoke to his father for the last time.

"Next time you see me I'll be dead," the 19-year-old told him before parting. Six days later, on August 3, Joseph's body was discovered in a lonely churchyard.

This week his tearful family talked of their love for Joseph and described the spiral of drug-taking and then addiction which destroyed his young life.

Joseph, of Linnet Drive, Chesham Fold, Bury, was found dead in the yard of St Mary's Ukrainian Church, Rochdale, five days before his 20th birthday.

His father, also Joseph (pictured with his son in happier times), spoke of the family's long battle to help him beat his drug addiction and described their last meeting.

Joseph Jnr told him: "You'll want to love me up because next time I'll be dead."

His father replied: "I love you as much as I can, like a baby." He then told his son, who was "drugged up" at the time: "Come back home when you are in a better state."

Mr Bridge told an inquest at Rochdale: "I tried and I tried, but I don't think Joseph could get off drugs."

Joseph was a former pupil of St Paul's CE Primary School. He leaves a son Steven, aged four.

He had been living in a flat in Middleton until last year when he made a major effort to rid himself of his addiction. But he gave up the flat to attend a clinical rehabilitation centre in London.

Said his stepmother Mrs Tracey Bridge (31): "Joseph did not receive the one-to-one counselling he wanted and his condition actually got worse while he was down there." Joseph worked briefly at a local glass factory but used his pay to buy more drugs. He was admitted to Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale, after an overdose but later discharged himself.

"It was all too much. He'd stay with friends until they could tolerate his drug habit no longer," said Mr Bridge (41).

"When I saw him on July 29, he said he wanted to come home so that I could help him. I'd tried all I could but he could not get off the drugs. Then he said the next time I saw him he would be dead."

Mr Bridge did not attach too much significance to the remark. The two men had clashed before over Joseph's drug-taking and the arguments were always soon forgotten.

Mrs Bridge added: "Joseph was a good looking lad with a good character. We are a close-knit familyand he was a very loving lad. He was in the Army Cadets and wanted to join the regular army.

"He was very proud and really did try his best to get off drugs. He often said he wanted to be just like his dad."

Mrs Bridge made a final heartfelt plea to other youngsters.

"People don't need drugs. They get a kick out of smoking when they are younger but then some of them want to try something a bit stronger. They go from one thing to another and then end up on the hard stuff."

Coroner Mr Barrie Williams adjourned the inquest to await the results of medical tests.

Thieves brought further heartache to Mrs Bridge when they stole her purse in Bury town centre. She was shopping to buy Joseph a pair of trainers in which he was to be buried.

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