Losing job led to Burnley drinker's deadly spiral (From This Is Lancashire)

Losing job led to Burnley drinker's deadly spiral

5:00pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in News By Chris Gee, Reporter

A MAN whose body was found at his home, where more than 100 empty vodka bottles were once discovered, could have ‘been lying dead for weeks’, an inquest heard.

Anthony Moffitt, 57, was found at his house on Chiltern Avenue, Burnley, on August 20 after concerns for his safety were raised.

Witness Alexandra Watson described Mr Moffitt as her step-father as he had been in a relationship with her mother for around 18 years, although they never married.

She described the couple as ‘functioning alcoholics’ who had both had jobs before being made redundant around four years ago.

Miss Watson told the court that their problems with alcohol had spiralled after they lost their jobs and that they would ‘drink when they could’.

Her mother developed dementia and moved to residential care while Mr Moffitt stayed at the house.

Miss Watson said that on visiting Mr Moffitt ‘he would not let me in and told me he did not want me around’.

When she finally gained access to the house in March last year she said he was ‘withdrawn and angry’ and she feared he had been neglecting himself. She described clearing the house of ‘more than 100 empty bottles of vodka’.

During this period Mr Moffitt was also admitted to hospital with burns to his leg after falling asleep near a heater.

Miss Watson said she called social services and housing agencies to support him but he would not let them in the house to assist.

A pathologist’s report showed that Mr Moffitt had ‘been dead for some time’.

Despite the advanced decomposition, evidence of cirrhosis of the liver was found.

Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a narrative verdict that Mr Moffitt had died from liver disease after many years of alcohol abuse.