A 61-YEAR-OLD teacher died after falling down the stairs, an inquest heard yesterday.

The inquest at Oxford Coroner’s Court heard widower Stephen Moore, of Masefield Crescent, Abingdon, died at his home on June 2 last year.

South Central Ambulance Service paramedic Martyn Hawkins said he found the teacher lying at the bottom of the stairs.

In a statement police officer Victoria Justice said she found half a broken vase on the floor next to where Mr Moore was lying.

The inquest heard a statement from PC Robert Turpin who said that Mr Moore's step-son Nigel Poole had heard a bang at about 12.30am but thought Mr Moore had fallen over something and did not want to disturb him.

A post-mortem examination report from forensic pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar showed Mr Moore suffered a fractured skull which could have been caused by hitting the table leg.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Anthony Maddison told the inquest: "Mr Moore quite regularly drank, certainly on a daily basis and it was suggested that when he got to an intoxicated stage, he was at times not steady on his feet."

Toxicologist Jamie Preece added a toxicology report showed alcohol was detected in blood and urine samples.

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Coroner Darren Salter recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Brother Andrew Moore, 57, said: "He was an amazing brother to me. I think it's a reflection of how Stephen was thought of that so many of his friends came here."

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