The stepfather of a teenager who died from an overdose had to be restrained as a former heroin user left a heated inquest.

Natasha Stuart, 18, was found dead in an armchair on May 23 last year by 23-year-old Steven Blake.

She had taken a lethal dose of morphine belonging to Mr Blake.

Coroner Roger Stone recorded an open verdict at the hearing because he did not have sufficient evidence to say whether her death was due to an accident, an attempt to take her own life or an unlawful killing.

As Mr Blake left the court room, Natasha's mother Jane Hodges shouted out and her stepfather Steve Hodges lunged at him.

Two policemen and a coroner's officer helped separate the two men.

There had already been hostility between Mr Blake, of Tarring Road, Worthing, and Miss Stuart's family in the law courts reception area before the inquest began.

On May 22 last year, Natasha, of Bulkington Avenue, Worthing, had gone to the Downview pub, Worthing, with her boyfriend David Collins.

Natasha did not want to continue with the relationship but the couple remained in the pub and met up with two of Mr Collins's friends, Tracy Fuller and Matthew Bourner, both from Worthing.

Mr Blake was drinking in another bar in the Downview and eventually started talking with the two young women.

At the hearing, Miss Fuller said Natasha followed her into the toilet and told her how Mr Blake had given her drugs.

Miss Fuller said: "She told me that Steven Blake had given her a pill. It was in her right hand and it was pink.

"She told me it was valium. She cupped her hand with water and took the tablet down. We came back out and carried on as normal."

Except for Mr Bourner, the friends and Mr Blake carried on drinking alcohol into the night.

Mr Bourner said: "I was not aware of any drugs changing hands. Mr Blake offered me valium. I replied that I did not do things like that.

"David was edgy due to the fact Natasha was getting on well with Steven Blake."

They all left the pub at about 11pm.

Miss Fuller fell over on the pavement and Mr Bourner helped her home while Natasha went back to Mr Blake's parents' home in Ringmer Road, Worthing.

In a police interview, Mr Blake said he used to use heroin and was still taking prescribed drugs.

He said: "We went back to my house and were 'tankered' by then. I take a lot of medication. I brought them into the lounge, we tried to smoke in the lounge. We had a joint.

"I barely kissed her. She sat in my father's chair with her head to the right. I put my shirt over her."

In the morning, May 23, Mr Blake said he started doing some washing up for his mum when he noticed some of his pills were missing.

His mum returned home and was annoyed to find Natasha slumped in the chair before realising something was wrong.

Mr Blake said: "I started slapping Natasha. I tried to pick her up but she was a dead weight. My mum put her in the recovery position and I called an ambulance.

"I was checking for a pulse and we could not find anything."

In a disturbing transcript of the 999 emergency call, Mr Blake said: "She has taken morphine. I do take lots of pills, I'm disabled and she has gone in my pill bag."

Mrs Hodges confirmed her daughter had psychological problems and suspected she had used cannabis and amphetamines in the past.

She had talked to Natasha on May 22 to arrange when they would next meet. Mrs Hodges said: "She was okay, she had pulled herself together.

"I was arranging to pick her up that weekend before she died. She was taking anti-depressants and anti-psychotics."

Pathologist Dr Keith Roberts said Natasha had died from a morphine overdose, which was made worse by the alcohol and the anti-depressants she had taken.

Dr Roberts doubted Natasha had been made to take the morphine and said: "There was no evidence there had been any force used at any stage."

Detective Inspector Paul Williams said the death had made him suspicious but police had conducted a detailed investigation and there was not enough evidence to prove "one way or another" that Mr Blake was responsible.

Mr Williams said, in certain circumstances, charges could be pressed against those who supplied drugs which resulted in a death but there was "not the evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service to support a prosecution for unlawful killing".

He said: "There is no indication she was suicidal. With suicide you normally have some precursor of depression leading up to it or a note."

Coroner Mr Stone said: "I cannot entertain the thought she wanted to harm herself. I would have to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt.

"The same applies to any conclusion of unlawful killing. Probably that type of offence has not been committed."