A mother has spoken of her grief after her teenage daughter died of a drugs overdose in an Oxford flat - while living with a former policeman twice her age.

An inquest heard today Jodie Simpson, 17, who grew up in Eynsham, in west Oxfordshire, died of a heroin overdose while living with former Oxford policeman Nigel Sherlock in April last year.

The 43-year-old, who worked in Kidlington, Oxford and Cowley during 12 years with the force, gave evidence at the inquest into Jodie's death and told the coroner he found her body at the flat they shared in Osney Court, off Botley Road.

Jodie's mother said after the inquest that she had disapproved of their relationship.

Edwina Simpson, 49, said her daughter had met Mr Sherlock when she was just 13.

She said the pair had lived together in a flat off Abingdon Road, in Oxford, for a year before moving into Osney Court, three weeks before Jodie's death.

Ms Simpson, of Blankstone Close, Eynsham, said: "At the age of 17, she was far too young to have been in a long-term relationship with a man aged in his 40s.

"At his age, and considering his previous job, he should have known better."

Oxfordshire Coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict of accidental death, after hearing the amount of heroin taken by Jodie "would have killed anyone".

Neither Ms Simpson nor her close family could bring themselves to hear evidence at the inquest.

Mr Sherlock, who lives in Islip High Street, has worked as a bus driver since resigning from Thames Valley Police in 2000.

He told the inquest he had gone to work, before meeting Jodie during her lunch break from college.

He told the inquest: "I knew she had bought some stuff (drugs). She said she was going 'to get sorted'. I said to be careful."

Mr Sherlock told the coroner he knew she had paid £10 for heroin.

He said he tried to telephone her that afternoon but "assumed she was busy" when he got no answer.

When he returned to the flat, just before 8pm, he found Jodie's body.

Mr Gardiner said: "There's nothing to suggest that she took her own life - it was an accidental overdose of heroin."

Dc Leigh Thompson, Thames Valley Police's drugs co-ordinator, said: "This is just another tragic example of the damage drugs can do to a family.

"We will work tirelessly to prevent this happening again."

Ms Simpson said: "Nothing can bring my daughter back, but I pray no other mother has to go through what I have been through."

Mr Sherlock declined to comment.