Alcoholic was found dead on sofa (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Popley man Paul Smith died of liver failure

9:34am Sunday 19th August 2012 in Local By Helen Morton

THE decomposing body of a Basingstoke man was found in his flat after his worried mother contacted police.

Paul Smith, 40, had been dead “for a while” before he was found on Wednesday May 9 in his home in Dryden Close, Popley.

Mr Smith, who had a young daughter, had struggled for years to control his drinking, an inquest in Alton heard. His mother Lynne said she called the police after she did not hear from him for three weeks.

She told coroner Andrew Bradley that her son had been a heavy drinker for many years, starting at the age of 14.

She said her son, who worked sporadically on building sites and in an office was a pleasant person.

She said: “He wasn’t nasty when he was drunk he was just a bit silly.”

Mr Smith had previously sought help for his drinking problem from Alcoholics Anonymous and Solent NHS Trust.

His mother said she had last seen her son on April 13, but after three weeks without contact she called police who broke down his door and found his body on the sofa.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, North East Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley said Mr Smith died of liver failure as a result of alcohol abuse.