The family of a man found dead in a Witney garden say they have been left devastated.o Daniel Mills, 23, was discovered half-naked in the back garden of a maisonette in Wadard's Meadow on Saturday morning.

The owner of the property came across his body shortly after 10am, as he was putting out his rubbish.

Mr Mills was found wearing only trousers and socks.

The street was cordoned off for most of the day as forensic teams gathered evidence. Police remained at the scene until 7pm.

A postmortem examination on Saturday proved inconclusive, although police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Mr Mills's father, Peter, 53, of Weavers Close, Witney, said his youngest son, who had recently moved to Lake Street, South Oxford, was known for his heavy drinking, but was thought to have got his life back on track in recent months.

The father-of-three said: "He was a smashing lad. When he wasn't drinking, he was the nicest lad you could ever wish to meet.

"He had been in trouble with the police in the past. But he was turning his life around.

"He had a new job and a new girlfriend as well. It's just such a shock."

Mr Mills understood his son had been drinking heavily on Friday night and had taken several sleeping pills. But late at night, he left where was supposed to be staying and passed out in the nearby garden.

He said: "We are trying to build up a picture of what happened."

Mr Mills said his son loved snooker and football and had supported Aston Villa. Until this season, he also played for Witney's Two Rivers Football Club.

His brother Paul, 25, said last night: "It hasn't hit me yet. It hasn't sunk in at all.

"He was just 23 and it doesn't seem right. Danny was the nicest bloke you could meet when he was sober, but unfortunately, drink seemed to trigger something in his head."

Daniel was sentenced to 18 months' youth custody at Oxford Crown Court in May 2003 after he and an accomplice beat up and robbed a teenager in Witney, leaving him needing 20 stitches to his mouth.

Police last night appealed for anyone with any information about what might have happened to Mr Mills to come forward.

An inquest is expected to be opened later in the week.

Thames Valley spokesman Pierre Du Bois said: "Detectives are not treating the death as suspicious. It is now up the coroner to ascertain how he died."

Daniel is survived by father Peter, mother Linda, 52, and brothers Phillip, 31, and Paul.

Anyone with information should call Witney police on 08458 505505.