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, in South Harrow, by a passerby on December 7 last year.

Police were called to the alleyway, leading towards Elmgrove Road after a member of the public said he had possibly found a dead body of a male crouched in the alley, an inquest at the North London Coroner’s Court heard today.

Officers established on arrival that man had died, which the London Ambulance service later recorded, and conducted a search of his possessions, finding herbal cannabis, used and unused syringes, silver foil and cleaning equipment.

A post mortem report and toxicology report into his death 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 while as he attended rehabilitation for a drinking problem.

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

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 – which he had been prescribed previously – without knowing his tolerance had reset, causing the overdose.

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