A DAD who died as a result of drug toxicity earlier this year received a text hours before his death from a woman telling him to end his own life, an inquest has heard.

Father-of-one Barry Stewart died aged 38 at his home address on Chorley New Road, Horwich, on February 11.

Bolton Coroners Court heard how Yasmin Burke had moved into Mr Stewart’s home in December, after she moved back from the Glasgow area following a break-up.

Mr Stewart’s sister Kimberley said that her brother had asked her for money several times between December and February - and that this was out of character for him.

“I think it was because he needed the money to buy drugs for her,” she said.

In the hours leading to his death, Ms Burke, who admitted to being under the influence of cocaine and alcohol at a house party at the time, sent Mr Stewart a message, in which she encouraged him to take his own life, the inquest heard.

It read: “If you’re going to do it, do it properly,” the court was told.

Read more: Dad died in crash after driving through red light in Farnworth

She later visited the property in the early hours of the morning, the court heard, and is said to have kicked the door down to gain entry to the flat.

Miss Burke found him in a collapsed and unresponsive condition, with his head slumped over, before calling 999.

Paramedics attended and he was pronounced dead at the scene. After making the 999 call, Ms Burke became overwhelmed and fled the scene, the court heard.

Ms Burke told the court in a written statement: “He had threatened to take his own life in the past and he sent me messages talking about doing it.

“We were very good friends and we would sometimes drink and take cocaine together to let off some steam.

“He would often mention about us being in a relationship together but I would always decline when he brought up the topic.

“I really regret sending that message, which is why I went round to check on him.”

Police coroner’s officer Marquita Hogan said that there were no suspicious circumstances or signs of third-party involvement surrounding his death.

The medical cause of death was given by doctors as one of “combined drug toxicity”, after toxicologist Julie Evans found traces of cocaine, alcohol, and a cocktail of prescribed drugs in his system.

Read more: Sex attacker jailed for assault on "vulnerable woman"

Mr Stewart’s sister, Kimberley Stewart-Rosson, told the court: “He had mood swings and he was very up and down with his mood.

“He did have a number of mental health issues, and he spoke in the past about not wanting to be here.

“But we always talked through it. I don’t think he intended to take his own life - he had so many things to look forward to.”

His mother Annette added: “I just think that he was let down by the system.”

The court heard that Mr Stewart’s mental health worker left to go on maternity leave, and no-one was reassigned to look after him in the interim.

Steven Teasdale, an assistant coroner for Manchester West, who recorded his conclusion as one of ‘misadventure’, said: “There are definitely lessons to be learned in this case.

“But on the balance of probabilities, I do not find that he intended to take his own life.”

Read more: Anger as libraries set for school holiday closures