A MAN found dead in a public toilet in Chelmsford left a loving message to his mum the day he died.

An inquest was held on Wednesday over the death of 27-year-old Steven Hiskey outside the toilets on Market Road on October 21 last year.

Mr Hiskey, who was living in St Nazaire Road, Melbourne, at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

A post mortem at Broomfield Hospital determined Mr Hiskey died from heroin and alcohol poisoning with high levels of both being found in his body.

During the hearing at the coroner’s court in Chelmsford, his visibly upset mother Susan told the court he had been caring for her and left her a message hours before he died.

Ms Hiskey said: “On the day he put a message on my bedroom mirror which said “smile mummy, love you”.

“He had also he had gone out but would not be long.

“He was a lovely son and when I moved to my current home, he carried everything including my fridge in a shopping trolley from my old place.”

Coroner for Essex Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded an open verdict over Mr Hiskey’s death.

Mrs Beasley-Murray said: “This was a sudden unexpected death.

“From what the post mortem says, the heroin in his system had an affect along with the alcohol too and these combined together had an even greater affect.

“I do not believe he intended to take his own life and I do not feel there’s enough evidence to suggest it was an accident so that is why I’m recording an open verdict.”

Benjamin English, 29, of Victoria Crescent, Chelmsford, has been charged with supplying class A drugs in connection with the death.

He denies the charge and is due to stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on April 28.