A DAD-of-two whose body was found in a Kidderminster canal had taken drugs before he tragically drowned.

Andrew David Hart’s body was pulled out of the water near Weaver’s Wharf retail park at around 11.20am on Friday, June 10, and he was declared dead at the scene.

An inquest at Worcestershire Coroners Service on Wednesday, August 17, ruled the intake of opiates, methadone, cathinones and benzodiazepines had contributed to his death.

A forensic toxicologist found "a low concentration of legal highs, methadone in his system at quite high levels and traces of morphine and codeine in his blood".

Mr Hart, of Whitley Close, who was on a prescription for methadone, had used drugs for a "number of years", his family said at the inquest.

In a written report, Detective Inspector Mark Fletcher said a metal spoon and a hypodermic needle had also been found in his possession.

Mr Hart’s family claimed "people threatened him as they wanted money back" and said the 34-year-old had told family members "that his life was not worth living anymore".

Although a pathologist stated there was a 23mm laceration on his head, Coroner Geraint Williams said Mr Hart had no injuries which suggested he had been assaulted.

Recording an open conclusion, Mr Williams said: "We do not have any evidence about how he came to be in the canal and we do not have any witnesses to explain how he ended up there.

"A post-mortem gave a medical cause of death of drowning, contributed to by the consumption of opiates, methadone, cathinones and benzodiazepines.

"The police were told he had been sold a specific drug and the suggestion was that had killed him. The post-mortem showed no sign of this in his blood.

"It was also suggested that he had been pushed into the canal from a different location from where he was found.

"The police spoke to the individuals who gave that information but they refused to co-operate.

"It appears there had been a domestic incident and the people involved were arrested.

"He had no injuries to suggest he had been assaulted.

"All of these three things were discounted.

"There is no evidence to suggest he would have went into the canal or was pushed into the canal.

"I find the cause of his death to be drowning contributed to by the consumption of opiates, methadone, cathinones and benzodiazepines."