A MAN falsely imprisoned for the murder of a young Southampton woman has been admitted to a London hospital after injecting himself with heroin.

Former drug addict Sean Hodgson was rushed to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital after going to a drug dealer's home near Notting Hill and injecting the Class A drug.

Mr Hodgson's solicitor Julian Young reportedly said he was shocked when he saw his client.

He said: "Sean was not well. He was complaining of hearing voices, slurring his words and was confused and sweating badly. We took swift action."

Mr Hodgson spent almost 27 years in prison for the murder of 22-year-old Teresa de Simone, who was killed in Southampton in 1979.

The 58-year-old was dramatically freed earlier this year after DNA evidence proved he was not the killer.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, Mr Hodgson has been told he will have to pay £250,000 of his £1m compensation for board and lodging while in prison.