A HAMPSHIRE doctor who had been suspended after being accused of stealing drugs died after taking an overdose, an inquest heard.

Shuvo Mukherjee was found dead in the bedroom of his home in Shirley, in Southampton, an inquest heard.

He had been suspended by the General Medical Council in May 2015 for obtaining ketamine at a hospital in Northern Ireland.

The doctor continued to be suspended after not attending a hearing in October last year.

The inquest heard Mr Mukherjee, 32, from Pentire Avenue suffered from insomnia and had been using recreational drugs on and off for several years, according to his GP Carol Smart.

The inquest heard Mr Mukherjee had been on a detox programme in Peru, and he told his family he was confident about rebuilding his life and returning to work.

He was found dead by his landlady and long-term friend Theresa Larkin.

Pathologist Sanjay Jogai told the hearing samples from Mr Mukherjee’s body revealed he had taken a cocktail of drugs.

Senior coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of a drugs related death.

He said: “I have no reason to think this was a deliberate overdose. I fear he was not facing up to the reality of his drugs use and the fact he would be permanently struck off if he could not demonstrate that he could survive without drugs.

“He was a man that had the prospects of life as a doctor and I am sure he wanted to be a doctor to help people but sadly it was the drugs that prevented that.”

After the hearing the family of Mr Mukherjee described, who graduated from Southampton University, as a well loved and intelligent man.

After the hearing, Mr Mukherjee, who graduated from Southampton Univeristy, was described by his family as well-loved.