A HEARTBROKEN father issued a warning against the dangers of drugs just hours after they killed his teenage son.

Peter Lewis, of St Julians Street, Newport, made the plea after 18-year-old son Matthew Gibson died yesterday morning of what police say is a suspected drugs overdose.

He was found on the third floor of the city's Westgate Hotel building, which police say was being used as a squat.

Mr Lewis, who is convinced that drugs caused his son's death, has issued a warning in a bid to prevent other parents going through his heartbreak.

He said: "My son died aged 18, in a derelict building, alone. I have given him so many chances, but last time he stole about £300 and the video, so I had virtually given up on him and it was all because he preferred the drugs.

"I watched him go from cannabis, to pills, to paste, to crack and then heroin.

"No matter what I did with Matthew, nothing worked, he was 18 and died looking like a 40-year-old.

"I watched as my son was destroyed by drugs. Drugs are the scourge of society.

" I feel angry that they are decriminalising cannabis.

"I would urge parents to come down hard on their kids if they find them smoking cannabis before it gets out of control."

Drugs scourge: Anguished father warns parents of dangers 'I looked on as my son was destroyed'

He says his son started on cannabis at about the age of 12, and he is branding the drug "the gateway to hell".

He is now planning to start a campaign to tackle the drug problem in Newport.

He says: "My son died aged 18, in a derelict building, alone.

"I have never tasted drugs, but I have seen what it has done, my three sons were all battling against drugs.

"I blame myself for not doing enough but I also wonder what more I could have done.

A few weeks before his death, Matthew was admitted to hospital with a suspected drugs overdose.

Before Matthew got involved in drugs, his father says he was a "loveable" boy.

He excelled at sports and had good reports from St Julian's High School.

Mr Lewis says that when he found Matthew smoking cannabis he didn't come down too hard on him, but says that he never knew it would lead to his son's death.

He adds: "Cannabis is a gateway drug to hell, it leads to all the rest of the drugs.

"I watched as my son was destroyed by drugs. Drugs are the scourge of society and are so easily available.

"The public must know the truth about drugs. How many more children must die before something is done?

"I watched him deteriorate gradually, and it is really frustrating not being able to do anything about it.

"I would urge parents to come down hard on their kids if they find them smoking cannabis, before it gets out of control.

"If telling my story stops just one child being involved in drugs it will be worth it."

* Pictured: Peter Lewis, whose son Matthew died after a suspected drugs overdose