A MAN with a history of drug abuse was found dead in bed by his ten-year-old daughter.

A neighbour went to check on Philip Leonard after seeing the youngster standing by a window saying she "couldn't wake her daddy up", an inquest heard today (Thursday, July 21).

Jamie Ward went to Mr Leonard's flat in Maple Court, Thompson Road, Bridgwater, where he unsuccessfully tried to revive the victim through chest compressions while calling for an ambulance.

He also spoke to Lorraine Groom, the former partner of Mr Leonard, aged 40, over the phone and informed her of the situation.

Ms Groom, in a written statement, told the hearing that Mr Leonard had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse and that she left him when he was sent to prison in 2012.

The couple's younger daughter had gone to stay with her father for the weekend.

Mr Leonard's GP told the inquest that he had a "long-standing problem with drug addiction", including using heroin and psychoactive substances, which had led to mental health and behaviour problems.

A post mortem revealed that Mr Leonard, who was single and unemployed, had taken methadone and another prescription drug, which when combined can prove fatal.

The tests also showed he had suffered acute aspiration of his gastric contents, causing food to block his airways.

Tony Williams, the senior coroner for Somerset, said Mr Leonard had self administered methadone, giving a conclusion that he died from acute aspiration and methadone toxicity.

He concluded that Mr Leonard's death on March 28 this year was drug related.