A MAN whose decomposed body was found in a Salisbury house died from drug toxicity, an inquest has heard.

Ivan Russell’s body was discovered after police broke into his home in Kivel Court, on July 18 last year.

Mr Russell who lived alone had not been seen for several days and a neighbour had reported a smell coming from the property.

On Tuesday, Salisbury Coroner’s Court heard the 48-year-old had a history of drug abuse and also suffered from anxiety and schizophrenia.

The court heard Mr Russell had become concerned about a pending benefits assessment and feared being made to work.

A post-mortem showed traces of prescribed drugs, methadone and morphine. Recording a conclusion of a drug-related death, coroner David Ridley said: “On the balance of probabilities, it is more likely than not Ivan died from a fatal drug toxicity of an opioid nature which led to respiratory depression and then death.”