A man with a history of alcohol abuse was found dead at his Tividale home, an inquest heard.

Stuart Knott, 32, was discovered by his uncle who he lived with at their home in Florence Road on June 24.

Yesterday’s inquest at West Bromwich Town Hall heard that Mr Knott had severe difficulties getting around by himself as a result of his drinking and required a wheelchair. His sister Kerry Knott told the inquest he had had a drink problem for many years.

“He had been in and out of hospital quite a few times but the only medication he used was his inhaler for asthma,” she said. “We tried on a number of occasions to get him to stop drinking.”

Miss Knott told the court she received a call from her uncle Kenneth on the morning of June 24 saying there was a problem with Stuart who he thought might be dead. She rushed around to his house before calling 999.

His father Roy Knott told the inquest Stuart’s drinking had not initially been taken seriously enough and got worse as the years went by. “I lost touch with Stuart over the years but did see him on the odd occasion,” Mr Knott said.

“In respect to the drink, he had problems over the years and had gone to hospital on different occasions but he was a law unto himself. That was his downfall.”

Black Country Coroner Mr Robin Balmain said the medical cause of death was given as acute liver failure due to alcoholic liver disease.

“This is a direct result of alcohol abuse and that is the verdict I return,” Mr Balmain said.