A backpacker from New Malden died "drunk and alone" in a Bangkok hotel room after overdosing on a cocktail of amphetamines and alcohol, an inquest heard.

Peter South, a 31-year-old IT consultant, of Belmont Avenue, was found slumped on his bed and dressed only in a shirt and wrapped in a blanket at the Wiang Thai hotel on March 25 last year.

Westminster Coroner's Court heard Mr South was travelling alone in Thailand and had checked into the hotel just a week before his death.

Staff at the Wiang Thai reported seeing Mr South regularly coming back to his hotel room drunk, although they never saw him bring anyone back with him. He was a regular visitor to Khao San Road a famous backpacker destination where hotel staff said he visited bars before returning to his room.

Sujin Nonpipak, a hotel worker who discovered the body the following day, said Mr South left his room at 8.30pm on the night before his death.

He said in a statement: "He was seen returning to his room drunk at 2.30am. He was like that every day. After that, no one saw him come out of his room."

Mr Nonpipak used a copy key to enter Mr South's room the next afternoon when staff became concerned after he did not answer the door. He discovered the body and alerted Thai police, who conducted an investigation into his death.

Doctors found high levels of metaphetamine and amphetamine in his blood, although it was not clear where he got the drugs from.

Following investigations carried out by the Thai authorities, Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said he was satisfied there was nothing suspicious about Mr South's death.

He was not a habitual drug user, but the levels of amphetamines in his body were high enough for him to overdose. Dr Knapman recorded a verdict of death due to non-dependent drug abuse.

May 30, 2003 09:30