A MAN who battled heroin addiction for 21 years died from a drug and alcohol cocktail which included a lethal overdose of methadone, an inquest heard.

Unemployed Gareth Barnes, 35, of Aygill Avenue, Heaton, Bradford, was found dead on a sofa at his brother's house on December 13 last year after a family birthday party.

Today's inquest heard how Mr Barnes, who was prescribed doses of methadone, must have got more from an unknown source.

The inquest also heard from toxicologist Dr Paul Smith how Mr Barnes had drunk enough alcohol to be four and a half times over the legal drink drive and had therapeutic levels of other painkillers and anti-anxiety medication that he had illicitly obtained.

There were signs he had also smoked cannabis at some point before his death.

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Mr Barnes had turned up at his brother Mark Barnes' house in the city already worse for wear in drink on the night of December 12 and having admitted taking three or four anti-anxiety pills to make him feel calm and relaxed.

During the party he got involved in a scuffle with a nephew which ended in an exchange of blows in which he suffered minor cuts but he and his partner Leanne Holmes eventually settled on the sofa.

The next morning he was found dead and police were called. A thorough investigation was carried out but officers were satisfied there had been no suspicious circumstances, the inquest was told.

Pathologist Dick Shepherd ruled out injuries from the scuffle having any connection to his death and he gave the cause of death as methadone, alcohol and mixed drug poisoning.

A statement was also read out from Tracy Hodgson, of Bradford's Bridge Project, who said Mr Barnes had been supported by its workers in his battle against alcohol and drugs and been referred to the Piccadilly Service's Lifeline programme - but did miss appointments.

She also said Mr Barnes had freely admitted coming by illicit prescribed drugs. He also had chronic liver disease and asthma.

"He was aware of the serious risks to his health," she said.

Mark Barnes said his brother did not seek out extra methadone but he did pursue anti-anxiety medication.

Concluding Mr Barnes's death was drug-related, Bradford Coroner Martin Fleming said: "There are indications he may well have obtained additional supplies of methadone from a source unknown.

"It's the only way we can account for what he had in his system and with the alcohol and other drugs it all made for a fatal cocktail, toxic to his respiratory system.

"He did intend to take the alcohol and the drugs but he misjudged the combined toxic effect."