A "BEAUTIFUL" son and brother died after taking drugs to stop voices he heard in his head, an inquest heard. 

Daryl Cole, 30, of Deanes Close in Basingstoke, was found unresponsive in his bed by his family on October 8, 2021. 

An inquest at Winchester Coroner's Court on Thursday, August 11 heard that he died due to the "toxic effects of recreational drugs".

His family paid tribute to him and described him as “a beautiful soul that touched so many people’s lives”.

The inquest heard he had suffered from mental health issues from a young age and had been diagnosed with both Asperger’s and schizophrenia.

Mr Cole would often hear voices in his head and take recreational drugs to help him sleep.

A spokesperson from Southern Health said: “He had very low esteem and was someone who had schizophrenia, he was abusing drugs which had a detrimental effect on his mental health.

“He was always polite and pleasant but had self-harmed before.

“He had previously heard voices which demanded him to harm himself.”

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Area coroner Jason Pegg recorded the cause of death as being a misuse of drugs.

Mr Pegg said drugs had been found in Mr Cole's body.

He continued: “The toxic level resulted in him passing but there is no evidence to suggest he wanted to take his own life.

“He was making plans and seemed to be content.

“He took too much of a drug he had taken many times before."