A MAN who had battled drug addiction from the age of 14 was found dead in his Winchester home after overdosing, an inquest heard.

Peter Moran, of Staple Gardens, was discovered by police on September 2, after his aunt raised the alarm.

An inquest into his death was held at Winchester Coroner's Court on Tuesday, June 14.

Coroner Jason Pegg heard that Mr Moran had been looking forward to visiting his mother Marian Best at her home in Bishop's Waltham on the weekend of August 28 and when Mrs Best did not receive her daily message from him, she became concerned and contacted her sister Josephine Altouf, who went to the property.

Mrs Altouf contacted police, who entered the property and found Mr Moran dead on his sofa, with cannabis residue nearby and tramadol in his kitchen.

A statement from Mrs Best was read to the court.

She said: "On August 25, he messaged me to say that he was looking forward to the weekend and that he loved me. He would normally send me a message every day."

A post-mortem found a fatal level of tramadol in his system.

Statements from Mr Moran's doctor Dr Victoria Ayres said that Mr Moran had sought help for anxiety and depression in the past, and that his addiction to heroin had started at the age of 14. However he had sought treatment for his drug addiction.

He had been signed off from his job at KFC in 2018 through stress but had never been prescribed tramadol.

Mrs Best said that her son had moved to his address in Winchester eight years ago.

Mr Pegg said: "She described him as very happy at the address and that he kept it in a good condition. She described her son as a happy person.

"He was happy with his life and that he spent every day in the library trying to improve himself. As far as she was aware, he had come off drugs."

Mr Pegg ruled Mr Moran's death due to misuse of drugs.

He said: "My sincere condolences to his family."

READ MORE: What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?

For help or support with bereavement in Winchester and the surrounding areas, go to winchesterbereavementsupport.org.uk