A NEWLY engaged Dudley man hanged himself at home after drinking at the pub, an inquest heard.

Steven Powell, aged 23, was found dead at his High Street flat on December 18 last year by his fiancee of one week Janine Shaw.

The level of alcohol in his blood was three times the legal driving limit.

An inquest at Dudley Coroners’ Court today (Tuesday) heard the gas service layer was on medication for depression and had threatened to harm himself in the past.

Janine said: “One minute he would be fine, then his mood would change and he would be sad - then he was fine again.”

The 26-year-old, who now lives in Grimsby, told the court she was not aware of Steven being concerned about anything.

She said: “He never told me if he was worried about anything because he didn’t want me to worry as well.”

Mr Powell and Miss Shaw had been at the pub on the day he died. He left at 11pm to go home and get changed and was expected back at the pub because the couple planned to go clubbing with friends.

But Mr Powell didn’t return.

Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain told the inquest Miss Shaw told police Mr Powell sent her a text message at 11.23pm saying: ‘I take it you aye coming home tonight.’ Miss Shaw told the inquest she couldn’t remember the text. She said she presumed Mr Powell had decided to stay at home because he had a cold. When she returned to the flat they shared in the early hours she found Mr Powell hanging.

Mr Powell’s mother Debbie Powell, who lives in Weymouth, said she spoke to her son the day before he died. She said he told her he wanted to move to Weymouth to start a new life there in the New Year.

She said: “He was laughing and joking. I can’t understand why - he had so many friends and so many people there for him.”

Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain recorded an open verdict saying he could not be sure Mr Powell intended to kill himself because of the level of alcohol in his blood.