AN UNEMPLOYED drug addict who once tricked doctors into giving him painkillers by pretending to be a teacher, policeman and pilot was found dead from an overdose, an inquest heard.

Shaun Hayward, who was jailed for nine months after admitting fraud in 2012, had 45 times the normal therapeutic level of dihydrocodeine in his system when he died in April this year.

Mr Hayward, 37, is believed to have bought the drugs that killed him from the internet.

The 37-year-old appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court four years ago. As reported in the Daily Echo at the time, he made up false identities at eight different GP's surgeries and gained more than 100 prescriptions of painkillers before being found out.

A Bournemouth inquest heard Mr Hayward, of Portarlington Road, Westbourne, suffered from Munchausen's Syndrome, a condition in which sufferers fake symptoms of illness to gain attention.

He claimed to have epilepsy, kidney cancer and other conditions which have since been discovered to be untrue.

Mr Hayward was found dead on the floor at home by his long-term partner Andrew Mahon on the afternoon of Tuesday April 5 this year, Dorset Corner Sheriff Payne heard.

The inquest heard his computer revealed he was half-way through a flight simulation game.

Mr Payne recorded a narrative verdict saying: "Shaun Daniel Hayward died from consuming an excess of drugs and alcohol but his intent in doing so is unclear."

He added: "He came up with various stories about his physical health and became addicted to dihydrocodeine.

"It appears that he had been at his computer, got up and collapsed. I am not convinced that he took his own life - there is considerable doubt."