A DRUG addict bled to death after piercing a vital artery in his groin as he tried to inject heroin.

On May 23, Southwark Coroner's Court heard how Paul Butler, aged 42, was found dead in his bathroom in Green Bay Road, Charlton, by his mother Teresa and brother James.

Labourer Mr Butler, who was diagnosed with a personality disorder in 1999, punctured his femoral artery in the groin area which carries blood to the legs.

His mother visited his flat and found two blood-stained towels near the bathroom.

There was also blood on the walls.

Mrs Butler contacted her son James, who came to the flat, pushed in the bathroom door and found his brother dead.

The court heard Mr Butler had battled drug addiction for around 20 years but did not have the strength to get clean.

He smoked from the age of eight, was drinking alcohol at the age of 11 and was taking Class A drugs at 16.

By the age of 30 he had a £50-a-day heroin habit.

Coroner Andrew Walker recorded a narrative verdict of "death from complications from injecting heroin".

He said the cause of death was haemorrhaging from the artery, linked to being an intravenous drug user.