A FORMER counsellor who was found dead in his bed claimed he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, an inquest was told.

Timothy Francis Brown, 48, was found dead in his Bridport home by police officers on December 12 last year after a drug overdose.

An inquest in Dorchester was told that PC Sara Mackay was called to the scene and discovered Mr Brown’s body in his bedroom.

She told the inquest: “I had met with Mr Brown once before and he said he had cancer and not long to live.

“After entering the house I found him in his bedroom under a duvet, he appeared to be sleeping.

“There was a lot of medication lying around, bottles of methadone and crumpled pieces of rolled up tin foil.”

West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston said a pathologist report stated Mr Brown suffered from depression and chronic alcohol abuse and opiate dependency and the combination of drugs he had taken probably resulted in his death.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.