AN ex soldier died a lonely and troubled man and felt he was worthless, an inquest heard.

Patrick Kearns, an alcoholic, had been sexually abused in the Royal Irish Guards, was depressed all the time and "just wanted oblivion," his ex-girlfriend told the hearing.

Dublin-born Mr Kearns, of Collingwood Street, Colne, died from a drugs overdose of his friend's tablets on Sunday, aged 33.

Returning an open verdict, East Lancashire Coroner David Smith said although Mr Kearns tried to take his life two or three years ago, there was no evidence to say he took the tablets with a view to ending his life. He may have decided to take them to give him relief from how he was feeling or to end his life.

Mr Smith said: "He didn't leave a note. He didn't say he was going to do anything like this."

The inquest heard Mr Kearns' body is to be flown to Eire for burial next week.

Mr Kearns' former partner Mrs Felicity Langton, of Pendle Mist View, Colne, said their relationship had ended two days before his death. Last Saturday they had been to friends and Mr Kearns had drunk lager and cider and said he was going to get his head down at his friend Anthony Baldwin's home.

Mr Kearns accused Mrs Langton of not loving him any more.

The next day the group waited for Mr Kearns to turn up and when he did not arrive, went to Mr Baldwin's flat at 6.50pm.

Mr Kearns was lying on a mattress dead. Three quarters of a bottle of cider was by his side.

Mrs Langton said: "He was depressed the whole time and just wanted oblivion. He abused alcohol to take the pain away. He felt he was worthless."

Mrs Langton said that three weeks before he died Mr Kearns' doctor had stopped his medication. He had become more depressed, started shoplifting for drink and was "stressed out."

Mrs Langton said she had asked Mr Kearns' psychiatrist to visit him two days before he died but he said there was a shortage of hospital beds.

Mr Anthony Baldwin, a friend of Mr Kearns for about 18 months, said he found between 40 and 50 Heminevrin tablets missing from the first aid box he kept them in.

WPC Susan Parker said a doctor believed Mr Kearns had been dead for over 12 hours when found. No third party was involved.

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