A HAMPSHIRE man may have died more than a month before his body was found at his home.

A Winchester inquest heard that Richard David Carson, 51, of Portswood Road, Southampton, was found dead in his flat on October 19, 2016.

Neighbours became concerned when they realised Mr Carson had not been seen for some time.

The inquest heard that Mr Carson had suffered from a long-term lower back pain and depression and took medication for both. He had also previously taken medication for insomnia.

Police sergeant Mark Smith said that Mr Carson was found on his back in the kitchen and had been dead “for a significant amount of time”. Police did not believe that there were any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Pathologist Dr Jeffrey Theaker said that there were no obvious causes of death, however, after further investigation it was found that Mr Carson had taken toxic levels of a painkiller.

The Coroners Court heard that Mr Carson had not been seen for over a month and the last withdrawal from his Post Office account was in early September.

The senior coroner, Grahame Short, said that Mr Carson died at some point between September 6 and October 19 and that his death was drug-related.

He ruled out suicide as a cause of death.