A MAN lay dead in his Southampton home for several days before his body was discovered, an inquest heard.

Daniel O'Sullivan was found dead on his sofa after police forced entry to his flat in Orchard Lane after his aunt raised the alarm, having not spoken to him for five weeks.

Southampton Coroners Court heard that the 40-year-old had a long history of alcoholism and officers found 32 litre bottles of cider in his flat when they discovered his body on October 8 last year. Deputy Coroner Gordon Denson recorded a verdict of death due to dependent abuse of alcohol.