Stephen Swanton

The unemployed and single 33-year-old disappeared on September 17 from the family home. It came about because following an argument Mrs Swanton had kicked her son out of the house and packed up his belonging in bags which were left on the drive. But he managed to slip back into the house in the evening and when confronted by Mrs Swanton and her partner, fled out of the lounge window topless and never returned. His body was found in the Manchester Ship Canal near Media City in Salford on December 16.   

His date of death was recorded as that same date and the cause of death was drowning, Wednesday's inquest at South Manchester Coroner's Court in Stockport heard. Mrs Swanton said: "I'm not satisfied. There's still unanswered questions. "He had heroin in his bloodstream, which we never knew about before. "He was full of drugs, different drugs, cocaine as well." She said the inquest failed to shed convincing light on her son's final weeks although a shopkeeper gave evidence at the inquest to say he sold Mr Swanton a two-litre bottle of cider. 

The inquest heard the post-mortem examination revealed the 33-year-old had a broken nose, missing teeth and a neck injury which may been caused by submerged machinery as his body was carried downstream.