A FRIENDLY and popular man told friends he was going on a 'spiritual journey' hours before taking his own life, a coroner's court heard.

Richard Reynish, aged 38, was found dead in the bathroom of his Bolton home on September 1 after his flatmate returned from a bank holiday weekend away.

Bolton Coroner's Court ruled the furniture restorer had taken his own life by overdosing on heroin.

Mr Reynish had battled with drug addiction in the past, the court heard, but had remained clean in the years leading up to his death after becoming involved in religious work most recently with Claremont Church.

But the court was told how Mr Reynish had been upset in the days leading up to his death and had been particularly agitated in the hours leading up to him taking his own life, reportedly because of a situation involving a previous relationship.

His body was discovered on the Tuesday after friends lost contact with him earlier on Monday afternoon.

One friend, Paul Kavanagh, told the court he had dropped Mr Reynish off at the Derby Street branch of Lidl, close to his home, at about 3.30pm on Sunday.

He said his friend had appeared particularly angry during the drive but had given no indication of what he was planning.

Mr Kavanagh said: "We were driving along and he wound down the window and threw his phone out of the car very hard. It smashed to pieces, he didn't say why he did it, it was just all of a sudden he was very upset."

He added: "He said he was going on a spiritual journey, I asked him what kind of journey, he mentioned heaven. I was very concerned, I started talking to him about his family and that he was loved, by me as a friend and by his family."

Mr Kavanagh told the court: "I thought he was going to pack a bag and just disappear. He told me I'd never see him again and I thought he meant he was going to move somewhere else."

When police searched Mr Reynish's flat they discovered several used needles and other drug paraphernalia.

Further investigation discovered Mr Reynish had sold his television earlier in the day for £40, which DCI Michael Fraser of Greater Manchester Police said he believed had been used to buy the drugs.

A draft email on his computer, which was not read out in court at the request of Mr Reynish's family, reportedly thanked friends for their support and said goodbye to his family.

Assistant coroner Rachel Griffin said she was satisfied from the evidence that Mr Reynish had intentionally taken his own life.