A 'RECLUSE' found hanged had been assaulted, threatened and his home damaged before his death, an inquest heard.

Keith White's mother, Mrs Margaret Crane, who found him dead at his Burnley council flat, sobbed at an inquest: "I have lost a son."

Coroner David Smith said it did not seem any third party was involved in Mr White's death, but he was concerned about the threats and assaults on him. He adjourned the inquest for further police inquiries.

Mrs Crane, of Middlesex Avenue, Burnley, told the Burnley hearing she found her 51-year-old son dead on Saturday November 16.

He had previously been depressed and had gone to stay with her for five weeks before returning home about the end of October.

She said Mr White was frightened to go home and went out only for his unemployment benefit.

She called at her son's Anglesey Avenue home and found the door panel had been kicked in again.

She went upstairs where she saw him kneeling down with something round his neck. Pathologist Dr Abdul Al Da-Woud said the only mark on Mr White's body was a ligature mark.

The cause of death was asphyxia related to hanging.

The hearing heard Mr White was found with a nylon bed sheet around his neck attached to a rafter in the attic through the hatch door. Acting Detective Inspector Philip Vernon said there was no evidence whatsoever of any disturbance at Mr White's flat.

Community beat officer for the Rosegrove area, PC Karen Kenworthy said Mr White had identified a person whom he alleged was responsible for assaulting and harrassing him.

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