AN OXFORD man drowned after having too much to drink and falling into a city centre stream.

Geoffrey Mahoney, who lived in Nursery Close, Headington, died on Saturday, January 5, in the Castle Mill Stream near Canal Street, Jericho, an inquest heard.

The 60-year-old was unemployed and described by neighbour Charlene Dingle as appearing “drunk an awful lot of the time” in evidence read during the inquest.

Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court heard he was found at about midday lying in shallow water.

Det Sgt Matthew Jarman told the hearing last Wednesday: “My personal take on the situation is that Mr Mahoney was very drunk and went to relieve himself.

“Then he found himself in a battle with the brambles and couldn’t get himself safely back to the bank.”

Coroner Darren Salter said a receipt found in Mr Mahoney’s pocket showed he went to Oxford’s Euro Bar on Friday afternoon before going home, but it was fair to assume he had gone out again.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.