An inquest has heard how the body of 35-year-old Lee Damien Smith was found in his flat on Bolton Street, Silsden, on July 21 last year.

A statement by his friend of 20 years Paul Butterfield told how he found Mr Smith lying on the floor at his home after getting the landlord to open the door because of concerns over his welfare.

Paramedics were called and he was pronounced dead at the scene. It is believed he had been dead for “a couple of days”.

A note saying “sorry”, was found, but the inquest heard there was no evidence Mr Smith had taken his own life.

Pathologist Dr Alan Padwell said a toxicological report showed he had taken “normal therapeutic levels” of paracetamol, with no alcohol or other drugs in his body when he died.

His sister, Mandy, told acting Bradford coroner Roger Whittaker there was a box of paracetamol in his kitchen, but only two of the pack were missing.

Mr Whittaker asked Dr Padwell: “There was no substantive natural cause of death found? No unnatural cause? No evidence of bruising or other injury to him that could have caused or contributed to his death?”

Dr Padwell replied “no” to each question.

Recording an open verdict, Mr Whittaker said: “I’m not satisfied he intended to end his life. Pathology is not an exact science and despite Dr Padwell’s hard work, we have not been able to ascertain a cause of death.”