A DEPRESSED drug addict found dead at his home had recently been the victim of two axe attacks, an inquest heard.

Jeffrey Thomas, 36, did not report the alleged assaults to police, but afterwards complained about his head and became bloated, according to his mother, who identified her son's body at Burnley General Hospital.

The hearing in Burnley was told Mr Thomas was found dead at his home on Lowther Street, Nelson, last Friday.

His mother, Marjorie, of Swinden Hall Road, Nelson said Mr Thomas, born in Burnley, suffered health problems all his life.

He had bowel problems and was supposed to be on a gluten-free diet. He would complain of pains in his legs and arms, used to drop things and had suffered from depression since last Christmas.

He was troubled by drug and alcohol abuse and at times, when he was in pain, her tablets would go missing.

She last saw him alive two days before he died when he had been to see his doctor about pains in his legs. Mrs Thomas said her son told her he was told it was withdrawal symptoms.

His mother said she had wanted her son to go to her house so she would look after him and get him into hospital.

Mrs Thomas said her son had wanted to "end it" about six months ago. He kept being ill. She said recently Mr Thomas had, she believed, been attacked by somebody with an axe who later attacked him again and vandalised his sister's car .

The matter was not reported to police and Mr Thomas complained about his head and became really bloated.

East Lancs Coroner, David Smith, adjourned the inquest to await toxicology reports from Manchester. He said the cause of Mr Thomas' death could then be given.

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