BEREAVED parents Mervyn and Eileen Mutton are offering a reward of £5,000 for in-formation leading to a conviction of anyone connected with their son's death.

Father-of-two Mervyn Mutton was just 25 when he died, five days after being found lying in Islwyn Road, Wattsville.

The inquest into his death was told that on September 29, 2000, he had collapsed inside a house in the road and a 999 call was made.

A police officer told the hearing that in her opinion Mervyn had been moved into the street before the ambulance arrived. He died in hospital on October 4.

His former girlfriend and two other women were in the house, one of whom was a nurse, said Mr and Mrs Mutton.

Detective constable Alison Evans told the inquest that police had considered bringing charges of perverting the course of justice after listening to the 999 message.

The fact that no prosecution was ever brought is just one of the issues surrounding their son's death that has distressed Mr and Mrs Mutton.

Detective Inspector Peter Keen, of Gwent Police, said: "The tragic death of Mervyn Mutton was investigated at the time and a full report of the investigation was sent to the Gwent Coroner.

"Any queries raised by the family prior to the inquest were discussed in person with them.

"Certain issues of the case were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service and a person appeared before the crown court for a related drug offence."

A verdict of misadventure was recorded at the inquest, which was told that Mervyn, who lived in Nantyglo, had taken an overdose of heroin.

"I wonder why the injection was in his right arm but he was right-handed. He had also drunk twice the alcohol limit," said Mrs Mutton.

Mr and Mrs Mutton said their son was not a heroin addict - although he had taken drugs while with his former girlfriend. Tests in prison revealed he was drug-free.

He was released from Usk Prison on the morning he was found in the street, after he had served an eight-week sentence for motoring offences and non-payment of maintenance.

His parents were not contacted at the time Mervyn was taken into hospital.

They only found out when Mrs Mutton telephoned his former girlfriend's mother.

The couple have been investigating the case themselves.

They abandoned plans to bring a private prosecution because they were told that the police had the power to take it over.

Mr Mutton has now set up a website - We Want Justice UK - for other families who might find themselves in the same situation.

* Mr Mutton's website is www.mumdavlb4.supanet.com He can also be contacted on 0777 1736085.