A woman turned detective to prove that her brother had been killed by a heroin addict, an inquest heard.

Dawn Green became suspicious following the death at Medway Hospital of Ryan, who failed to recover from the effects of a drugs overdose.

She confronted Samantha Loftus, who she suspected of being involved, and made a video recording of her confession that she had administered the fatal amount.

Assistant coroner Ian Wade found that Miss Loftus was “unequivocally responsible” for his death.

But she will not answer to the charge of manslaughter because not long after Ryan’s death she too died of an overdose.

The inquest heard that Ryan Lee Green, of Wentworth Drive, Cliffe Woods, had asked Miss Loftus to inject what was left of her Class A drug after she had used most of it on his acquaintance, Jonathon Martin.

Pathologist Dr Olaf Biedrzycki said Mr Green, 37, had a heart attack shortly after being injected, turned blue and collapsed. He was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital but died shortly after, on June 26.

Mr Green had ongoing problems with alcohol but was unaccustomed to frequent use of hard drugs, the inquest heard.

On the day of his death he was already three times over the drink-drive limit and had taken a sleeping tablet.

Dawn Green carried out some detective work of her own, and just a few hours later went to Miss Loftus’s home to question her about her brother’s death.

In the video recording, Miss Loftus said she had met Ryan, who was born in Gravesend, that evening, and they got on well. She admitted she had injected him.

Giving evidence, DS Lee Hodgetts was questioned by Mr Wade over the validity of the video.

DS Hodgetts confirmed Miss Loftus was speaking voluntarily, and was trying to be helpful.

He added: “We would have pursued a charge of manslaughter.

“She was arrested, interviewed and bailed. She made admissions about the injecting of Ryan. She was very distressed, very tearful, and clearly going through an emotional time.

"But some time later, she herself died in Maidstone due to a drug overdose, in a similar way to Ryan, and criminal procedures do not continue after death.”

He said he was satisfied there was no other possible cause of Ryan’s death.

Summing up, Mr Wade said: “Administering an unlawful substance is a crime and in this case it led directly to Ryan’s death.

“Hopefully what happened to Ryan will deter others who think it will be enjoyable to get their kicks out of heroin" - assistant coroner Ian Wade

“By administering the drug Miss Loftus became responsible for the consequences of that, even though Mr Green invited it.”

Mr Wade recorded a verdict of unlawful killing and added: “If Miss Loftus had been prosecuted, there wouldn’t have been any need for an inquest. I am reaching the conclusion the jury would have reached.

“This is an awful and sad case.

“Hopefully what happened to Ryan will deter others who think it will be enjoyable to get their kicks out of heroin.

"Let’s hope this tragedy that has befallen Ryan and his family will be heeded by the community. Heroin is lethal.”