Man died after hitting head while pulling on his trousers

A man died after smacking his head on a table while attempting to put on a pair of trousers, an inquest heard. James Hughes, 65, of Coleridge Gardens in Lincoln was found by police in his home on February 26. His body was in an advanced stage of decomposition. Weeks earlier it is believed he suffered a fractured skull, leading to bleeding on the brain, during a fall in his bedroom.

In a statement read to the court, PC Alan Brown of Lincolnshire Police, said: "At 10.15pm police received a phone call from local residents concerned for an elderly male who had not been seen for several weeks. At 11.10pm we forced our way through the front door. I entered the main bedroom – the bed was unmade.

"I looked towards the left corner and saw a man lying on his back, his head was framed by the legs of a table. His trousers were down across his thigh area – half on, half off. It appeared he may have been dressing or undressing. The body had obviously been there for some time.

"I checked for signs of foul play, but the windows were shut and secure and the door keys were in the inside of the lock. All around there were still items of value. Newspapers in the house were from some time in February and food in the fridge was dated best before February 5." In recording a verdict of accidental death Coroner Stuart Fisher said: "On the balance of probability Mr Hughes may have fallen and fractured his skull while dressing."