THE death of a street drinker whose body was found in an Oxford lake was accidental, a coroner ruled.

Kenneth Pollard, 57, who lived at Lucy Faithfull House, a hostel for the homeless in Speedwell Street, Oxford, was found in Hinksey Lake, South Oxford, in June last year.

An inquest heard Mr Pollard was a keen angler, but had a 12-year history of binge drinking.

Shortly before his death he was given an Asbo, after several drunken incidents including ripping a turban from the head of a Sikh.

His body was found by Matthew Bailey, of Edith Road, Oxford.

The two men had fished together at the lake before, and Mr Bailey said he knew Mr Pollard had problems with his knees which caused his legs to lock up, and that he had previously fallen in.

He told the inquest: "He would often spend several days at the lake, sleeping in his tent. I went to see if he was still there one morning and saw his tent and fishing equipment but couldn't see him.

"It was then I saw his black jacket in the water and the back of his head and I knew he wasn't alive."

Det Con Mark Lacey, one of the first police officers on the scene, said there was nothing that looked suspicious.

He said: "His lanterns were still on outside his tent and it looked like he might have fallen in while setting up his rods. The edge of the lake was very slippery and unstable.

"I also recall seeing an empty vodka bottle on the bank."

Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner said: "I can see no evidence to suggest Mr Pollard deliberately went into the water but plenty of evidence to suggest he went in accidentally."