A Staplehurst couple died on consecutive days after injecting a suspect batch of heroin, an inquest heard.

Nicola James and Gavin Black battled heroin addictions for several years, but had recently reduced their usage.

Miss James, who died on May 1, was found slumped in the couple’s Willow Crescent property by her partner.

The pair were due to attend a friend’s funeral in Maidstone that day, but went to the wrong church so returned home.

An inquest into the deaths last Wednesday, heard Miss James drank vodka and beers with Mr Black that evening before heading upstairs for a bath.

After hearing nothing from his 42-year-old partner, Mr Black, 38, went upstairs to find her slumped in the bathroom, with a needle cap next to her.

Emergency services were called and a neighbour, trained as a nurse, carried out CPR until paramedics arrived.

Miss James, who grew up in Harlow, was taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury, but died shortly after.

Mid Kent and Medway coroner, Patricia Harding, was told no other drug paraphernalia was found around Miss James’ body, but a used syringe was found in the kitchen bin.

Mr Black, who worked as a furniture fitter, returned to the property and was visited by Miss James’ son and the boy’s father the next day.

He left the pair to prepare food but was later found lying on the kitchen floor. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A metal spoon with a substance on was recovered, but no other heroin was found.

Speaking at the inquest, held at Maidstone’s Archbishop’s Palace, Det Sgt Daniel Barker said there were several heroin related deaths in a short period of time.

The court heard officers believed the batch which Miss James and Mr Black injected could have been significantly pure or contaminated.

After their deaths one man was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs, but was later released without charge.

Officers did not find the source of the heroin. A Kent Police spokesman said the investigations had been filed pending further information.

Miss James and Mr Black died from heroin poisoning and Miss Harding returned a verdict of drug related death for both.