A BURNLEY man suffered several broken ribs after he fell down stairs at his home, an inquest was told.

Derek Fildes, 65, was found at the bottom of the staircase at his home in Fenwick Street on May 18 after police broke in through a boarded-up back window.

At a resumed inquest in Burnley, pathologist Dr WD Salman said Mr Fildes was found to have several broken ribs, a broken clavicle and bruising consistent with a fall. He gave the cause of death as injuries sustained in a fall.

Police were alerted by neighbours who had not seen him. The house was secure and Det Sgt Anthony Ronnan said police were satisfied there was no third party involvement.

When the inquest was opened last week, Mr Fildes' son Shaun, from Bristol, said he had not seen his father for about 20 years.

He said he believed he lived alone and had heard he was an alcoholic who walked around the town centre asking people for money.

Mr Fildes' next-door neighbour. Angela Mendes said: "I saw him usually everyday and often he would be the worse for drink.

"He would often ask me to call an ambulance because he had fallen and once to call the fire brigade because of a chip pan fire."

She said she had not seen him since May 13.

Mrs Mendes said: "He didn't take good care of himself and had got a lot worse in the last few weeks."

East Lancashire coroner David Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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