THE father of a convicted drug dealer who accidentally overdosed on heroin at Christmas is struggling to come to terms with his son's death.
Former Chelmsford schoolboy Scott Bolden, 33, was found dead in his bed by his friends on December 22 last year.
An inquest at New Bridge House, Chelmsford, confirmed that although Canadian-born Mr Bolden overdosed on heroin and morphine it was accidental, and not suicide.His father Mr Kenebel said: "He never said he would take his own life and in fact he was quite happy at the time, which makes a change.
"There was no real reason for it that I can understand and, unfortunately, he was his own man.
"I am still trying to get to grips with it – still trying to get to grips."
The former Linnet Drive resident, who went to Moulsham High School, was found dead at his Colchester home after friends said he had "not been himself" at Christmas.
After worrying about his absence, friends knocked on his door on December 21 but, because his dog did not bark, they assumed he was out.
Yet on December 22, using a spare key, they discovered his body.
A post-mortem examination in January confirmed the cause of death was the 68mg of morphine and heroin, along with the 0.063mg of cocaine, that he had taken.
His father and his father's wife were expecting to see him on Christmas Day.
"It was a sudden and unexpected death," said coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray.
She added: "I have considered suicide but I would have to be sure he took his own life, knowing it would result in his own death.
"I am not going to say suicide.
"It was an accident, and a tragic accident, and I will record a verdict that he died as a result of an accident.
"He was clearly much loved by you and your wife, and I would like to express sympathy to you and I hope you can look back fondly at the happy memories."
In December 2008, Mr Bolden, who formerly lived in Braintree, was jailed for three years and three months as part of a huge crackdown on the supply of cocaine and heroin in the town.
