A recovering alcoholic was found dead by his girlfriend after he had taken a combination of alcohol, cocaine and heroin, an inquest heard.

Reuben Washington, of Walmsley Close, Church, was last seen two weeks before his death by girlfriend Mary Kirkham when he was in a ‘low mood’, Blackburn Coroners Court heard.

Miss Kirkham, who had been in a relationship with the 37-year-old for more than two years, went round to see him on July 12 and found him dead on the living room floor.

A post-mortem carried out by pathologist Dr Mohammed Alsam found he died of cardiorespiratory failure due to a combination of alcohol, cocaine and heroin in his system.

Miss Kirkham told the inquest how former undermanager Mr Washtington had been ‘clean and sober’ for three years before their relationship started however he ‘relapsed’ 12 months later.

She said: “Alcohol was his problem. I never ever witnessed him using drugs.

“He did tell me during a relapse he had used heroin previously but never used anything like that in front of me. He always used to drink to come off using heroin.”

The inquest heard how she last saw him on June 25 before she went to work and that his ‘mood was declining’.

She said: “Things were very amicable. I saw from recent events how his mood would alter but there were no cross words. I never thought this would happen. He left for work and said he loved me.

“He had a low mood which was becoming more apparent. There was no life event that was significant to bring about this apart from maybe not being able to find employment.

“That weighed heavily. He was volunteering at the time.”

Miss Kirkham told the inquest how she knew Mr Washington wanted to be ‘left alone’ to recover from his relapse and went round to his house on July 12 as she wanted to see him and he wasn’t answering his phone.

She said: “I know he had moments where he got very very low but he didn’t want to die.

“When I saw him he was shaven, he had brought fresh food and cleaned his bedding.

“All this would lead me to the idea he was trying to get himself out of this relapse.”

Coroner Michael Singleton ruled Mr Washington died of a drug-related death.