A CREWE man could face manslaughter charges following the death of 18-year-old Steven Stanley who died after taking a lethal dose of Ecstasy.

An inquest heard on Tuesday how Mr Stanley, of Badger Avenue, took up to eight tablets 'like he was eating biscuits'.

But during the hearing his mother Janet accused one witness of being a drug dealer and of killing her son.

The inquest was told how Steven had taken the drugs on the night of March 24 last year and within a couple of hours had started 'fitting'.

Paramedics arrived and took him to Leighton Hospital where he later died.

Steven, who suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), had just started a new job as a driver's mate with Bargain Booze.

His girlfriend, student Georgina Richardson, said he had told her he had tried Ecstasy a few times when he was younger but said he would never touch them again as he didn't like the effects.

On the night before he died Steven went to an address in Westminster Street where his best friend James Kelly lived with younger brother Graham and dad David.

He spent time upstairs with Graham Kelly, his second cousin Craig Stanley and Mark Stafford Hallam.

Craig Stanley told the hearing how he saw Steven buy Ecstasy from Mr Stafford Hallam.

He added: "I saw Steven take about eight tablets over a short period. They were white in colour and had an MTV sign on them. He just started going mad and speaking gibberish - it was scary."

Student Graham Kelly said that Mr Stafford Hallam had sold the drugs at about £2 for each tablet. He said he had seen Steven taking 'two at a time'.

David Kelly, who had been asleep downstairs, went to help Steven after seeing him stumble up the stairs.

He said: "He got up and shot into the bedroom. He started to shake like he was having a fit or convulsions.

"I said to Graham, what's going on and he said 'he has taken something'. He didn't say what he had taken."

James Kelly said he went to see Mr Stafford Hallam the day after the incident.

He said: "He already knew Steven had died. I said have you supplied him and he said 'yes', saying he had given him about four or five tablets.

"He said he had taken them like he was eating biscuits."

Giving evidence Mark Stafford Hallam refused to comment on the claims that he had sold the Ecstasy.

Steven's mother Janet questioned him saying: "I know he is lying. He killed my son and he wouldn't know the truth if it hit him in the face.

"He never took an aspirin because he knew with ADHD it would affect him differently.

"You are to blame for my son's death. You are nothing but a drug dealer."

Coroner for Cheshire Nicholas Rheinberg adjourned the case saying that evidence had emerged that needed to be investigated with a view to possible manslaughter charges.