A FORMER drug addict who moved to East Lancashire from Bradford for a fresh start was found hanged in a rear yard by police, an inquest heard.

Christopher Yeadon, 33, had moved in with his girlfriend Joanna Carr, who said she had made a similar recovery, at her home in Haslingden’s Beehive Terrace, Burnley Coroner’s Court was told.

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But Mr Yeadon, who suffered from depression, was found dead just four days after the move, at around 8.45am on November 1, the inquest heard.

Dr Mohammed Aslan, a pathologist, said the deceased had methadone, cocaine, diazepam and olanzipine, an anti-psychotic medication, in his system at the time of his death.

In a statement, Ms Carr said she had known Mr Yeadon for around four years and, knowing he had been a heroin user previously, had invited him to stay with her. “I thought I could help him as I had been in a similar situation,” she added.

The court heard On October 31 the couple and their friend Andrea Wainscott had been drinking and taking tablets at the Haslingden property. Mr Yeadon and Miss Wainscott left to pick up more alcohol from Accrington but returned later.

Miss Carr and Mr Yeadon had an argument and he later left with Miss Wainscott, the coroner was told. But when Miss Carr went around to Miss Wainscott’s home later, she insisted she had not seen him for hours.

The court heard she fell asleep after returning to Haslingden, only to be awoken by police outside her window, before she saw Mr Yeadon hanging.

Recording a suicide verdict, East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said it was apparent Mr Yeadon was a “charming and capable young man” who had struggled to overcome his problems.