A LOWER Gornal plasterer died after taking heroin and cocaine, an inquest heard.

Lee Cole's body was found on a stairwell outside a flat in Hermit Street, Upper Gornal, at 8.30am on March 5.

Black Country Coroner's Court was told that the 32-year-old, who was described as a "hardworking, good, genuine lad" by his mother Sharon Marsh, started using drugs around three years ago.

She said he got "mixed up" with some men who lived near his father, adding: "They introduced my son to taking drugs."

In September 2016, he spent a month in a private rehabilitation clinic in Leicester - paid for by his family - and started to rebuild his life.

Mrs Marsh told the inquest that her son had been "clean" since he left the clinic, adding: "I would have known if he had started again."

She told Monday's inquest that on March 4, Lee had left his grandmother's house at 5.30pm and had said he was going to see his father.

En-route, he had stopped at a bookmakers to use the toilet and it is there that he apparently saw one of his former associates, Mrs Marsh said, adding: "He was banging on the window, shouting Lee to come outside to him - the lad in the bookmaker's told me. Nobody saw Lee after that.

"They found him in the communal area of the flats where he used to associate with these people. I can't understand why my son had been there. I know Lee wouldn't have wanted to go back to the flat."

She said she didn't think her son would have taken drugs again deliberately, adding: "He promised me faithfully he'd never do it again.

"They were bullies, they used to get him in a state and beat him up. He definitely didn't want to go back to that life. I think they basically put it in his drink and murdered him."

Mrs Marsh also said she believed her son's body had been moved as his trainers were found by his waist.

Senior Coroner Zafar Siddique said she had made a "very serious allegation", adding there was "no evidence he'd been forced to go to these premises".

Detective Inspector Ade George told the inquest he was aware of allegations that others were involved, but said there was "no evidence to suggest there had been an assault, manhandling or any dragging of the body".

He said there were no defensive injuries and Mr Cole had £42.90 in his pocket along with a packet of mints and "a small clear bag containing a small amount of unknown white powder, believed to be drugs".

Det Insp George said while the placing of Mr Cole's trainers was "unusual and unexplained", it did not mean the death was suspicious.

Mr Siddique added: "He could have gone in the flat, collapsed in the flat and been moved, but it doesn't change the outcome because he must have gone to that flat voluntarily at some point.

"There is no evidence of any other offence - he's not been kidnapped or anything. He could have been moved, hence his trainers were found by his side, but what the officer is saying is that doesn't make it a criminal offence."

The inquest was told that at the time of his death, Mr Cole had a very high level of heroin/morphine in his system.

He also had a small amount of cocaine in his system and was roughly twice over the drink-drive limit.

Mr Siddique said together, the drugs, which it is likely Mr Cole snorted, could cause the heart rate to slow and breathing to stop.

"We'll never know the exact circumstance but I am satisfied that Lee took these illicit drugs and they led to his death," he said.

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Marsh said: "We are not going to let this drop. I will fight all the way for justice for my son. I will be making a formal complaint against the police. We want answers."