A DRUG addict died of a heroin overdose two weeks after being released from prison.

Paramedics were unable to revive Geoffrey Clewes on May 18, 2009.

At yesterday's Hartshill inquest into the 25-year-old's death, North Staffordshire deputy coroner Anthony Curzon said it was impossible to say who had administered the fatal dose of heroin.

Mr Clewes's dad, also called Geoffrey Clewes, told the inquest that after leaving Sneyd High School his son had "fallen in with the wrong crowd" and started his drug habit.

This has resulted in him being involved in crime, and he ended up in prison several times.

After being released from prison in early May 2009, Mr Clewes went to his home in Roberts Avenue, Cross Heath, and was seen by his dad, who thought his son looked gaunt and unwell.

Five days later Mr Clewes reappeared at home and asked his dad for some money.

When Mr Clewes Senior refused, his son left the house, slamming the door behind him.

Mr Clewes Senior told the inquest it was the last time he saw his son alive.

On Sunday, May 17, Mr Clewes collapsed while at his friend David Quilty's home in Knutton.

Mr Quilty and another friend, Michelle Glover, called for an ambulance, and paramedics were able to revive Mr Clewes.

Ms Glover said: "The ambulance men told him he had to be taken to hospital, but he wouldn't go. He said he was okay.

"After, he broke down on the bed. He said he was sorry. My guess is he had been taking drugs."

Mr Clewes spent the night at Ms Glover's home in Spencer Close, Chesterton.

The next day, after Mr Clewes failed to wake up, Ms Glover called for an ambulance, but this time there was nothing they could do to save his life.

Mr Clewes Senior does not believe his son had been taking drugs on his own.

He said: "Geoffrey couldn't inject himself. He had to have someone to do it for him. He didn't have any money either."

But Ms Glover, while admitting she had taken drugs in the past, insisted she had not seen Mr Clewes taking anything prior to his death.

Mr Curzon read out a toxicology report which showed high levels of opiates and diazapam had been found in Mr Clewes' stomach.

He said the amount of heroin Mr Clewes had taken would have been lethal, considering his tolerance would have fallen while in prison.

Recording a narrative verdict Mr Curzon said: "He died as a result of consuming a fatal amount of drugs.

"There is not enough evidence to say whether he injected himself, or whether someone did it for him."