AN amputee who was found dead by his partner inside a hotel room in Bolton died of drug-related causes, an inquest has heard.

Gareth Larner, a former HGV driver, died aged 50 on January 9 at an address on Bridgeman Place, Manchester Road, Bolton.

He had been living there since March 2020, as a result of re-housing for people in need during the pandemic crisis.

Gillian Scoles, who was Mr Larner’s partner of around 20 years, said he previously took heroin and crack cocaine over the last 25 years.

She visited the hotel room on the evening of January 9 and found him unresponsive. After calling an ambulance, paramedics arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Drug paraphernalia was found at the scene by police.

Pauline Squires, Mr Larner’s sister, told Bolton Coroners Court: “His mental health became very poor and when he was 16, after he found out his father had died.

“He was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. His physical health was poor, which was mainly because of drug use, which happened after he started hanging out with the wrong crowd.”

Mr Larner, who was unemployed at the time of his death, also suffered from blood clots in his leg and stomach and had to have his left leg amputated, the court heard.

Toxicologist Julie Evans found traces of alcohol, cocaine, benzodiazepine, and other illicit drugs in Mr Larner’s system following a postmortem examination.

Alan Walsh, area coroner for Manchester West, who recorded a conclusion of drug-related death, told the court: “He is a man who had taken illicit drugs from the age of 16. He had support but he did not appear to be able to break his addiction from the drugs.

“I have no doubt that the made efforts to break the habit, but he was gripped by the addiction.”

Read more: Man dies at hospital after pneumonia treatment