A HEARTBROKEN mother whose adult son died of a heroin overdose a few months after she lost her daughter to cancer has branded drug dealers "evil scum."

Nicholas John Dennett was pronounced dead at his Blandford flat after attending court on charges relating to drug driving earlier that day.

It is thought the 54-year-old had not taken heroin in twenty years and it may have been that his body's tolerance for the Class A drug had diminished significantly during that time.

Despite a history of drug abuse, Mr Dennett, of East Street, had worked hard in a bid to overcome his addictions, Dorset Coroner's Court heard on Tuesday.

During the inquest hearing, held at Bournemouth Town Hall, coroner Richard Middleton read a statement provided by Mr Dennett's mother, Gillian Holloway.

She said her son had struggled after the death of his "beloved" sister, who died in June 2019 after being diagnosed with cancer.

"We were all so devastated and Nick really struggled," said Mrs Holloway in the statement. "He (Nick) promised me he wouldn't go back on any of the drugs, but the dealers in Blandford have known him for years.

"They know who is vulnerable and who to target.

"They are evil scum and because of them we've lost another child."

Earlier the court heard how Mr Dennett first experienced difficulties with drugs as a young man, eventually losing his job as a metalworker, his partner at the time and his house.

But after moving back home with his mother he got himself clean and his situation improved.

Following his court appearance on Friday, September 13, 2019, he and girlfriend, Julie Russell, returned to Mr Dennett's East Street ground floor flat.

Ms Russell said they chatted, ate and fell asleep on the sofa.

When she awoke around 9pm that evening Mr Dennett was laying next to her unresponsive.

After calling 999 and administering CPR until paramedics arrived, Mr Dennett was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police attended and found heroin and drugs paraphernalia on the kitchen worktop.

"I knew that Nick had bought the heroin," said Ms Russell in a statement read to court. "But this is the first time he has done heroin in twenty years."

The subsequent policed investigation found no third party involvement nor suspicious circumstances.

A post mortem examination confirmed cause of death as a heroin overdose.

Mr Middleton, who said Mr Dennett must have injected the drugs after Ms Russell fell asleep, recorded a conclusion of drug-related death.