A MAN found dead in his bathroom by police died of alcohol intoxication, an inquest has heard.

Martin John Hampshire Smith, of Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, was found deceased on April 6 this year.

Police had been called to his address after being contacted by his father, also called Martin, who had not spoken to his son for a week.

On Wednesday (July 29) at Dorset Coroner's Court, Bournemouth Town Hall, coroner Brendan Allen presided over an inquest hearing into Mr Smith's death.

During this hearing Mr Allen read from a number of statements prepared by Mr Smith's father, the police, neighbours, healthcare professionals and the pathologist.

Mr Smith, aged 34, was a self-employed painter and decorator by trade.

The inquest heard how he'd initially moved to Bournemouth for residential detox and had lived at his Christchurch Road flat for four years.

In a statement read in court, Mr Smith's father said: "Martin was an alcoholic in recovery but he did relapse.

"The only problem Martin had was with the addiction he had."

Meanwhile, his neighbour, Julie Holbrook, said she saw him drunk and "foaming at the mouth" two weeks before his death.

She also confirmed his behaviour had become more erratic in the days leading up to his death.

The hearing also he had attended a number of appointments with alcohol and mental health services – and had attended A&E multiple times over the previous months due to alcohol dependence syndrome.

Mr Allen said: "From the evidence available to me it is clear that Martin John Hampshire Smith was found deceased at his home address.

"It was clear there were no signs of any suspicious circumstances and no sign of any third party involvement.

"It is also clear from the evidence available to me that Mr Smith struggled with alcohol addiction, had a recent relapse and this relapse was causing him considerable difficulties with his mental health.

"Having said that, there is no evidence at the scene to suggest Mr Smith had deliberately taken his own life.

"Medication that he was prescribed was found at the address and had not been taken in excess, there was no suicide note found."

Mr Smith had also been engaging with alcohol treatment services and had a plan in place to submit for residential detox, said Mr Allen.

Recording a conclusion of death by alcohol intoxication, Mr Allen stressed: "There was no evidence at the scene to suggest Mr Smith had deliberately taken his own life."