Stag night ends in tragedy, inquest told

An inquest on Wednesday heard how Mr Read, of Baldslow Road, Hastings, was found by a dog-walker in an unusual position in a front garden in Alma Villas, St Leonards, on the morning of June 15.

Civil servant Mr Read, who had a blood-alcohol level nearly five times over the legal limit for driving, was on his knees with his head tucked right up to his chest so the back of his head was on the ground.

Pathologist Dr Ian Hawley gave the cause of death as asphyxiation due to extreme flexion of his head and neck due to severe alcohol intoxication.

He said the most likely scenario was that in his drunken state Mr Read had fallen over, suffering a minor head injury, and ended up in a position where his airways were restricted.

Mr Read, a widower with a 25-year-old son, had spent the evening of June 14 drinking with friends at Brighton dog track for his partner's son's stag night.

During the coach journey back Mr Read and two friends stripped the groom-to-be naked.

The four of them got off together at around midnight and staggered along Alma Villas.

Fellow reveller Timothy Mitchell, whose evidence was read out at the inquest, said Mr Read walked ahead carrying the bundle of clothes while they dragged the naked man along the road shouting and swearing.

But by the time the pair arrived at the groom-to-be's house there was no sign of Mr Read.

"We thought he must have headed off home," Mr Mitchell said. "We went off laughing and joking."

The coroner, Alan Craze, recorded a verdict of misadventure.

"A misadventure verdict is appropriate when you are doing something out of the ordinary involving some inevitable danger," he said.

"This man was under the extreme influence of alcohol, as were the people he was with, and they were playing practical jokes on someone who was about to become a bridegroom."