‘She wanted to be known as a heavyweight drug user’

Polly North, who said the pair often kept in touch, said Rachel was a "much bigger drug user" than she was and no stranger to narcotics.

"She started taking cannabis at 14, and also acid," the inquest heard.

"She would also go out to the Entertainer pub and take alcohol with other drugs. Rachel was a much bigger user than me, and used a lot more speed than me, as it was easy to obtain in Hereford.

"She wanted to be known as a heavyweight drugs user, someone who could take a lot of speed. She did take breaks, most notably during school time."

According to her statement, Rachel was introduced to heroin by boyfriend Luke Fitzgerald close to her 18th birthday.

She "regretted it" as first, but it became clear to her that Rachel's drug problem was worsening, especially when the pair moved to Bath, then Exmouth.

She added that Rachel had started sniffing the drug but soon resorted to injecting it.

"She carried on taking heroin, but I could see how serious it was becoming.

"It was getting under her skin. She referred to her relationship as a three-way marriage - Luke, her and heroin.

"Luke didn't force Rachel to take heroin, but I am sure Rachel's life would have taken a different direction if she hadn't. Luke was a manipulative, unhappy man, who had a hold over her."