A HEARTBROKEN Andover family not informed of their son’s death for two weeks were told that it was “drug related” at an inquest last week.

As previously reported by the Advertiser, police and the coroner failed to inform Tracy and Bob Kness, of Valencia Way, and their family that their son Adam Kness’ body had been found in a flat in Meg Thatchers Green, Bristol on 17 December.

His partner Phae Hawksworth called them two weeks later – on New Year’s Eve – after the man whose flat he died in retained his phone and rang her.

It was only because of the Christmas backlog that his body had not been cremated.

Mrs Kness’ statement read out at Flax Bourton Coroner’s Court said: “We are shattered beyond compare and miss him more than we can say.”

The inquest heard Adam grew up as the eldest-of-five in Andover, but chose a nomadic lifestyle involving substance abuse which led to his kidnap and torture by a drug gang in 2013.

Following the inquest, the 52-year-old rehabilitation assistant said: “I feel more at peace knowing he isn’t suffering anymore through his lifestyle, but our lives will never be the same again.”

In a hearing that lasted little more than 20 minutes, assistant coroner Dr Simon Fox recorded his death as drug related confirming the causes as polydrug toxicity and Hepatitis C.

Dr Fox said: “The brief conclusion is that Adam Kness died in a friend’s house and it is drug related.”

Several drugs were found in the 33-year-old’s system which on their own were not lethal, but the combination was.

Adam visited Daniel Allen at the flat on 15 December after arguing with his partner.

On the night of 16 December they fell asleep on the sofa and Adam was not breathing when Mr Allen woke in the early hours.

In a statement read out, Mr Allen said: “I kicked his leg and there was no response. I panicked as I didn’t have a phone and ran outside to bang on my neighbour’s window.” Police and paramedics attended and Adam was pronounced dead at the scene at 3.20am.

Avon and Somerset Police apologised to the family for not informing them of his death, but the Kness’s intend to pursue their complaint further for an explanation.

Mrs Kness added: “There are a lot of unanswered questions and the police need to address it.”