A HAMPSHIRE mother whose three-year-old son died in mysterious circumstances had lost a previous child to cot death, an inquest heard.

Sarah Sims endured the agony of Jacob Langford dying on the first anniversary of the birth of half-brother Reese Langford. He had died aged seven weeks from sudden infant death syndrome.

Why Jacob died on September 7 2006 remains unexplained, the inquest in Winchester heard yesterday.

Central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short said the lack of clear evidence meant he had no alternative but to record an open verdict.

The inquest was told that Ms Sims and her partner Gavin Newsom were arrested by police investigating the death of Jacob at their home in Guest Road, Bishopstoke but were released without charge. The police investigation has been dropped.

Professor Rupert Risdon, a Home Office forensic and paediatric pathologist, said he had found no definite cause of death but he had found haemorrhage in the lungs, evidence that Jacob might have been asphyxiated.

He said: "There are worrying features. I can't exclude that the cause of death was due to asphyxiation and it could have been deliberate. I can't say that with any certainty."

Mr Newsom told the inquest that he had seen another child lying on top of Jacob although Jacob had not appeared to have been harmed.

Tests on Ms Sims and Mr Newsom showed that both had traces of cannabis in their bodies at the time of Jacob's death. Ms Sims also had traces of amphetamine.

A distraught Ms Sims told the inquest that Jacob, who was autistic, could be a "difficult child".

She said that on the day of his death Jacob had appeared fine. She had put him to bed and then fallen asleep on the sofa.

Mr Newsom told the inquest he had checked on Jacob at around 9pm and he was asleep but an hour later he went in and the boy was half off the bed.

"I went to put him back in bed and realised that something was not quite right. He felt heavy. I turned him over and that was when I realised he wasn't breathing.

"I shouted and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. I ran down stairs and said Sarah get help'."

Mr Short said: "I'm very conscious of the fact that this is the second occasion Ms Sims has had to go through the process of an inquest and that she has suffered a great deal in the proceedings in the interim. I'm pleased to see that Mr Newsom is with her to continue to give her support."