A HEAVY drinker was found dead in his sink by police.

Housing association tenant Glennon Sweeney, 59, was emaciated and wearing a T-shirt and shorts when officers broke into his flat.

A downstairs neighbour in the block in Versailles Road, Anerley, called police after water seeped through his ceiling from Mr Sweeney's kitchen.

PC Ian Tricker told an inquest, after forcing open the door, he "saw a body in the sink".

The officer added: "He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts. There were bruise markings."

A drugs container was found behind the body and his death was initially treated as suspicious but a forensic team found the marks were old, Croydon Coroner's Court heard.

Mr Sweeney had been suffering bouts of depression, Dr Alan Fishtal told the inquest, and he had been through an alcohol detoxification programme.

Over the years, he had had convulsions as a result of his drinking, the doctor added.

Mr Sweeney had no friends and weighed little more than 8st, the court heard.

Mr Sweeney, who was single, had been a housing association tenant of the top-floor flat for 13 years.

He had not been seen for at least a week when police broke in on June 12.

Pathologist Dr Adam Coumbe said it was not possible to establish a cause of death because of the body's condition.

Recording an open verdict, coroner Dr Roy Palmer said there was no evidence anyone else had been involved and Mr Sweeney could have died from natural causes.