A MAN who appeared to be turning his life around after years spent in and out of prison died after taking a lethal cocktail of drugs.

An inquest in Bolton heard how father-of-three Simon Felton, 36, had become involved with drugs, and in trouble with the police from an early age.

But in the months before he was found dead at his flat in Vernon Street, Bolton, friends and his parents told deputy coroner Alan Walsh his behaviour had improved.

But on March 24, after months of regularly taking his prescribed medication properly, he turned up for a probation appointment and at the community drugs team in an intoxicated state.

On March 25 he failed to turn up for his daily prescription of methadone and diamorphine and on March 30 his friend, Paul Denton called at his flat. He found Mr Felton lying dead behind the door.

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Felton had died from a combination of his prescribed drugs and other medication. Mr Walsh said something appeared to have happened to alter his previously improving behaviour.

Verdict: Misadventure.