A YOUNG woman found in the back of a van during this year's general election died after taking heroin, an inquest heard.

Martley Memorial Hall was turned into a crime scene when Catherine Murphy was discovered in her employer's van on Thursday May 5.

The former heroin addict had a promising future and was thought to have conquered her addiction.

The 22-year-old part-time law and psychology student, of Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, had been helping her employers Smartys to set up a clothing sale in the Martley hall but had complained of feeling unwell.

She said that her drink had been spiked the previous night when she was in Stratford-upon-Avon.

At about 4pm she was discovered unconscious in the van, with recent puncture marks.

County coroner Victor Round said: "She had made efforts to kick the habit. Her family had supported her all the way through and it was thought that she had since turned a corner."

Catherine had been introduced to the drug at age 15 and became involved with a man who, unknown to her parents, was a heroin addict.

In the months leading up to her death she appeared to have turned her life around.

She had completed a detoxification program two weeks before her death and had been off the drug for seven months.

Mr Round said that the problem with former users going back to heroin after a period of abstinence, was that their bodies could lose tolerance to the drug.

The night before her death, Catherine had visited friends in Stratford.

They were arrested on suspicion of having supplied a controlled drug to Catherine, but the Crown Prosecution Service was advised that there was insufficient evidence to support a case.

A verdict of death by non-dependent abuse of drugs was recorded.