A man stayed in a flat with his dead partner for several days because he couldn't cope with her death, an inquest has been told.

Julia Byrne died on the sofa at her home in Skegness in May last year.

But after her partner Mark Davis placed a blanket round her body, he continued to stay in the flat drinking for a number of days.

He eventually sent a text to one of Julia's friends instructing him to phone the police about her death after he fled to his parent's home.


An inquest held at Boston Coroner's Court, today, Thursday, January 17, heard that police became aware of her death when they were contacted by her friend Mark Elsworth.

The hearing was told he had received a text saying 'phone the police. Julia is dead.'

In a statement from PC Lorraine Speight, the inquest heard Ms Byrne - who had a history of alcohol abuse - lived with her partner Mr Davis at the time of her death in Dorothy Avenue, Skegness.

Forensic officers were seen at a house in Skegness after a woman's body was found
Forensic officers in the property at the time

She said: "During the interview, he [Mr Davis] stated that he and Julia had been in the flat getting drunk. He was drinking lager and she had Lambrini.

"He went to bed at 11pm and Julia stayed up in the living room. When he got up in the middle of the night he did not check on her as she would sleep on the settee three to four times per week.

"When he woke up at 8.30am she was still sat on the settee and had lost colour. He shook her in an attempt to wake her.

"He said she was dead and looked like she had been for a while.

"He covered her in a blanket and started drinking because his 'head went'."

The inquest heard that he visited Costcutter and used Ms Byrne's bank card to buy more drink.

He spent the next few days drinking with the 54-year-old in the house.

During this period, her friend Mr Elsworth sent texts to Julia because he wanted to meet up with her because he owed her money.

PC Speight added: "[Mr Davis] replied [to texts] pretending to be Julia. He said that if he told people she was dead it would make it real.

"He went to stay with his parents in March, Cambridgeshire, on May 15. Before he left he stroked Julia's hair and tidied her up a bit.

"He then text Mark Elsworth and put him off again."

When he arrived at his parents he later sent another text to Mr Elsworth to say that Ms Byrne was dead.

A post mortem was unable to reveal a cause of death but PC Speight added Ms Byrne's family believe that her body gave up after years of alcohol abuse.


It is believed she died between May 11 and May 12 but she wasn't discovered until May 17.

Coroner Paul Smith said Ms Byrne was three times over the drink drive limit when she died.

He said: "PC Speight said prior to her passing she had been drinking heavily with her partner. She had passed away over night on May 11 or 12.

"[Mark Davis] was unable to cope and took money from her account and remained in the flat with her for several days and ate what food was available and drunk in excess."

He added that matters were investigated by police but required no further comment as there was no third party involved.

He said: "Looking at the evidence it appears most likely she suffered an acute medical event over night."

He said that the findings of the post mortem were unascertained and delivered an open verdict.