A NEW Forest mother watched her addicted son take a fatal heroin overdose, an inquest heard.

Convicted drug dealer Jody James died in April in Marryat Road, New Milton, where he lived with his mother, Mandy.

The 34-year-old regularly said: “I’m sorry, mum” as he took drugs in front of her, Winchester Coroner’s Court was told .

The inquest heard Mr James had a history of using heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis and had attended several detox programmes to try and kick the habit. He had not engaged with drug and alcohol services since December, his GP, Dr Jon Bamford, said.

As reported by the Daily Echo, Mr James was one of 12 New Forest men who pleaded guilty to drug offences after police raids in 2010.

He was spared a prison sentence after admitting four counts of supplying heroin and crack cocaine.

Mandy James told Tuesday’s hearing how her son injected heroin in front of her on April 12, the night before his death.

“I watched him,” she said. “He always says: ‘I’m sorry, mum.’”

Mr James fell asleep on his bed with “blue around his mouth” from tablets known as Mono 10, which his mother said were ordered online.

Ms James told how she was woken by “gurgling” sounds coming from her son’s bedroom. She tried to revive him but he didn’t respond. Paramedics later pronounced him dead.

Police found tablets and a “powdery substance” near the body, PC Mike Kesslar-Lyne told the court.

He added: “There has been a task sent to our intelligence department based on the drugs alone along with some of the mobile phones which belonged to Jody James.

“A task was made for the Mono 10s to be supplied further in relation to supply across the New Forest district.”

Blood and urine tests found more than 10 painkillers and other chemicals in Mr James’ system.

Pathologist Dr Adrian Bateman said the substances, many stemming from heroin use, led to potentially fatal levels of morphine.

Dr Bateman said heroin overdose caused the death but other drugs, like the blue pills, could have contributed.

Recording a verdict of drug-related death, senior central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short said: “There’s no reason to think this was a deliberate overdose."

Mr Short added that he may have  'misjudged the quantity' 'or misjudged the other substances he was taking at the same time.