A drug addict who started taking heroin age 13 died as a result of an overdose, an inquest has concluded.

Jessica White, 35, was born in Burnley on July 22, 1988 and died at the house she shared with her brother in Nelson on November 12.

The inquest at Accrington Town Hall heard Jessica had overdosed several times in the past and that her and her brother, Robert, were both heavy drug users.

It was also heard Jessica had inherited £20,000 from her ex-partner in September last year.

Her mother, who was not present at the inquest but did submit evidence, said all the money was gone and Jessica had been left with nothing.

She added Jessica suffered from fits and she believed this was drug-induced.

Mr White, in a statement, said at around midnight on November 12 Jessica returned home having been in police custody and was let into the house by his friend.

They had a quick catch-up before she went to her room. Later on, Mr White told his friend, Mohammed Sultan, to go and check on Jessica.

He found her unconscious on a mattress in her room.

Both said they did chest compressions on Jessica to try and get her to come around, and Mr White thought it would work as it had done before.

Mr White said he had been doing chest compressions for around 90 minutes, though not consistently, before calling an ambulance.

Mr Sultan said in a statement said at around 3.45am Mr White called his mother to explain the situation.

He added they had not been able to call an ambulance sooner because ‘both phones were out of battery.’

North West Ambulance Service was called at around 5.15am, and within minutes reported to the police Jessica had died from a suspected overdose.

Police said multiple drugs were found at the scene and the address was untidy with obvious signs of drug use throughout.

Dr Steph Martin from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals said the blood concentration for morphine in Jessica’s body was within the range encountered in deaths, and there was also evidence of cocaine and codeine.

Coroner Kate Bisset gave a medical cause of death of multi-drug toxicity and said: “Jessica White died at her home having consumed an excess of drugs.

“I record a conclusion of drug-related death.

“I do not accept hours-worth of meaningful CPR was conducted. I consider it more likely Mr White was more often than not under the influence of some drugs when he was trying to assist his sister.

“Given the volume of drugs consumed, I am satisfied earlier prevention would not have saved Jessica’s life. Medical professionals are best placed to provide CPR.”