A WREXHAM man found dead in bushes close to a Tesco supermarket had died as a result of opiate poisoning, an inquest has heard.

Mark Anthony Formstone, 46, of Bryn Head in Southsea, had had a history of drug related problems since his early twenties and in the past had been known to use both heroin and crack cocaine.

John Gittins, coroner for North Wales (East and Central) told the hearing at Wrexham Guildhall, how Mr Formstone had been found by security staff working at the Tesco Extra store on Crescent Road shortly after 9am on March 22.

The security staff alerted North Wales Police, and upon attending the scene, Sergeant John Pritchard noticed the slumped body behind a fence and when he turned him over, immediately recognised the man as being Mr Formstone as he had dealt with him on regular occasions in the eight years he had spent working in the Wrexham area.

Mr Gittins went on to say how Mr Formstone, who also had a dependence on alcohol, had been in regular contact with medical practitioner’s to help him deal with his drug and alcohol problems and had last been seen just four days before his death and attended St John’s hostel on a daily basis.