Mosley's son died of drug abuse

Max Mosley is the head of Formula One

The son of Formula One boss Max Mosley died of non-dependent drug abuse, a coroner has ruled.

Alexander Mosley, 39, was discovered dead at his home in Notting Hill, west London, on 5 May.

The restaurateur had been using "hard drugs for many years", an inquest into his death had been told.

Westminster Coroner's Court heard he had been using heroin and crack cocaine, and had recently been treated for depression.

The inquest was told Mr Mosley started using drugs to cope with his shyness and admitted to his parents in 1994 that he had been taking heroin.

Missing for days

His friend and personal assistant Ramona Rainy told the court he had been using heroin and crack cocaine.

Reading a statement to the court, she said: "I was aware Al had been using hard drugs for many years and would often go missing for days at a time."

His cleaner Samara Fodoti found him slumped at his desk wearing only his boxer shorts and surrounded by drug-taking paraphernalia.

In a statement, she said she thought Mr Mosley was out but discovered him while cleaning his office on the third floor.

She said: "I saw him at his desk. It was obvious he was dead. I screamed his name, I didn't know what to do."

She said there was blood around his mouth and what appeared to be drugs on his desk.

I screamed his name, I didn't know what to do Samara Fodoti, cleaner

Mr Mosley, who co-founded the Hereford Road Restaurant, fought depression as well as a "long-term" addiction involving the abuse of heroin and cocaine, according to his doctors' reports.

Tests found his urine tested positive for cocaine, ketamine, MDMA (ecstasy) and heroin or morphine.

A post-mortem examination revealed no definite cause of death but puncture-type wounds were found around Mr Mosley's elbows and groin.

Harriet Hill, a lawyer for the Mosley family, pointed out that a shopping list was found, with reminders to deal with everyday items such as "plants, coffee, haircut".

Mr Mosley had last seen his father, the President of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) on the Saturday before he was found dead.

The two had enjoyed lunch together, with the restaurateur recorded as being in a "very enthusiastic mood".

Recording a verdict of death by non-dependent drug abuse, coroner Dr Paul Knapman said: "Alexander Mosley was found sitting at his desk with his computer on, wearing boxer shorts only.

"Around the desk were crack pipes, syringes, needles, powders and things used for taking drugs.

"This is a tragedy for a man who, in so many respects, had so much potential.

"Unfortunately his propensity to return to taking drugs has caused his death at the age of only 39."

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