A man who had been seeking help for a drinking problem died from an accidental overdose.

Mark Robinson, of Shepherds Way, Rickmansworth, was found in an alleyway between Rosslyn Crecent and Crystal Way, South Harrow, by a passer-by on December 7 last year.

A coroner today concluded he had died after accidentally overdosing on a combination of morphine, cocaine and alcohol.

North London Coroners Court heard that police were called to the alley leading towards Elmgrove Road on  after a member of the public said he had possibly found a dead body of a man crouched in the alley.

Officers established the man had died, and found herbal cannabis, used and unused syringes, silver foil and cleaning equipment among his possessions.

A post mortem report and toxicology report showed levels of morphine, cocaine and alcohol in his blood.

The 53-year-old, an unemployed photographer who died just weeks after his father, had previously lived with his mother in Bournemouth for a short time as he attended rehabilitation for a drinking problem.

He then moved back to Rickmansworth and expressed interest at a routine doctor's visit in joining an alcohol service in Watford.

Before recording his conclusion, Senior Coroner Andrew Walker said: “There is simply no evidence that a jury could return a suicide verdict.

“It seems to me that the evidence here points to an accidental overdose of the drugs that were taken.

“I think we can say that because the toxicology report shows that the levels of morphine were only just above the level associated with fatality.”

Mr Walker also added that no morphine was found in his hair, which could indicate that he had taken the drug that he had previously been prescribed without knowing his tolerance had reset, causing the overdose.

He concluded Mr Robinson's death was accidental and as a result of the combined toxic effects of morphine, cocaine and alcohol.