A MUM whose son died of a heroin overdose at a Boscombe flat said she "strongly believes" his older girlfriend is the reason the 27-year-old is dead, an inquest heard.

Imran Khan had taken crack cocaine and heroin with his partner Tanya Pulhen between October 5 and the early morning of October 6 last year.

She found him dead in the bedroom of her home in Portchester Court, Springbourne shortly at 9.20pm.

Although paramedics were called, it is believed Mr Khan had been dead for some time.

At an inquest into his death last Friday, a statement written by Mr Khan's mother Sandra Glenny was read aloud.

She said her son had been treated for a cocaine addiction at the Providence Project in Boscombe in 2017. Following the treatment, he had been clean for some 18 months, she said.

"One thing is clear. I can state categorically he never used heroin and was frightened by the idea of it. He would not touch heroin," she said.

"In August 2018, my husband and I were in Spain, As always, [Mr Khan] kept in constant contact. He told me he had met someone he really liked a lot.

"She was ten years older than him."

Mrs Glenny said she was "worried" about the relationship.

"He was 18 months clean and doing well until he met Tanya. I hold her responsible for my son's death," she said.

"I strongly believe this older woman is the reason my son is dead."

Ms Pulhen, who suffers a terminal heart condition and told police she uses both heroin and crack cocaine, did not attend the hearing and failed to answer calls to her phone.

However, a statement she gave to police was read out. In it, she said Mr Khan had "openly relapsed" two days before his death. The drugs were supplied by a dealer known as 'Scouse Ronnie', she said.

Police have not been able to track the dealer down.

After discovering Mr Khan's body, Ms Pulhen called paramedics. Before their arrival, she smoked a pipe of crack and one of heroin, she said.

Detective Constable Neil Jones said there was no evidence Mr Khan was forced to take the heroin. He had no track marks on his arms and Ms Pulhen said they smoked the drug together.

Coroner Richard Middleton said he understood Mr Khan's family's "shock and surprise" that he had died of a heroin overdose.

"The medical cause of death is a heroin overdose," he said.

"The information I have heard leads me to provide a short form conclusion of a drug-related death.

"I appreciate this doesn't answer a number of questions the family has."