A WOMAN who died of a heroin overdose had been battling with drug addiction for years, an inquest heard.

Mum of four Gillian Clemmett, 38, was found unconscious in the bedroom of a friends flat in the early hours of September 2, Bolton Coroners Court was told.

She was pronounced dead at Royal Bolton Hospital at 5.50am.

The inquest heard she was a “troubled soul” who had a history of mental health issues, which had deteriorated after the death of her partner to cancer last year.

Miss Clemmett, a former cleaner, who had been living in Addington Road, Bolton, had previously been prescribed methadone to help battle her addiction.

Her mother, Dawn Daniels, was not aware of her daughter being back on drugs, but told the hearing she “had her suspicions”.

She was sure that Miss Clemmett had “never intentionally overdosed on drugs” and that she was not aware of her daughter being depressed.

Dr Jonathan Pearson carried out a post-mortem examination and said that there “wasn’t conclusive evidence at first” regarding the cause and time of death.

But he said marks on her body were a clear sign of a drug user and a high level of heroin in her body caused respiratory depression causing her death.

Police coroner's officer Peter Yates said Miss Clemmett had visited a friend’s house on Thistleton Road where heroin was found by the police.

Her friends, David Entwistle, who lived in the flat, and Kimberley Longworth, who were not present at the inquest, had left the flat to go to a 24-hour garage on Beaumont Road, leaving Miss Clemmett in the flat.

However, when Miss Longworth returned she could not gain entry and it was not until the return of Mr Entwistle some time after, that they were able to get into the property.

They realised Miss Clemmett was unresponsive in the bedroom and started first aid but were unable to gain a response and called an ambulance.

The inquest heard there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

Assistant coroner Rachel Syed concluded Miss Clemmett's death was drugs related.

She told relatives at the inquest she was a “much loved daughter” and that “she would be proud of her family".