A CORONER said a popular Wallingford man who died after falling down stairs had one of the highest amounts of alcohol in his blood he has ever seen.

Toxicology reports showed divorcee Nickolas Proctor, 48, of Wigod Way, had 492mg of alcohol per 100 ml of his blood – equivalent to six times the UK drink-drive limit – when he died.

The Leeds United fan was found with head wounds at the bottom of the stairs in the house he shared with his 86-year-old father William Proctor on Wednesday, March 3.

When his body was moved, police found an empty vodka bottle alongside it, an inquest at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court was told.

Officers said that Mr Proctor’s father, who has dementia, did not recognise his son or understand what had happened when they arrived.

Mr Proctor, a prize-winning pool and table tennis player, had battled alcoholism for many years.

Relatives told the Oxford Mail he had started drinking even more heavily after breaking up with his wife and returning home from Surrey last September.

GP Dr Anthony Vernon said Mr Proctor had repeatedly tried, but failed, to quit drinking.

He said: “His father was still looking after the son, rather than the other way round. Mr Proctor spent most of his time in bed before heading out in the evening to get alcohol.”

Neighbours recalled regularly seeing him drunk, but said he was always friendly and never abusive.

Consultant pathologist Dr Sanjiv Manek said Mr Proctor’s intake of alcohol could have caused his death, but it was more likely he was killed by head injuries sustained in his fall.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Nicholas Gardiner said: “Clearly Mr Proctor had a severe alcohol problem. He had made efforts to control his addiction, but sadly without success. The levels of alcohol are among the highest I have seen.”

After the inquest, sister Linda Spoors, 61, thanked dozens of Mr Proctor’s friends who raised money for Vale House Alzheimer’s care home after his death.

She said the former Wallingford School pupil and Verco employee had desperately missed his four step-children after returning home to Wallingford.

She added: “For all his problems, he is a big miss to everyone who knew him.

“He was very funny, and people liked him. When we had the funeral, the church was absolutely full.

“Everyone used to laugh along with him and I am sure lots of friends across Wallingford miss him as well.”

  • ALCOHOL Concern estimates 1.6 million drinkers in England are dependant on alcohol, with one in four adults regularly drinking more than the recommended guidelines.


    Chief executive Don Shenker said: “The stereotypical image of a dependent drinker is someone on a park bench or who drinks from dawn to dusk. But the reality is that many people who drink heavily may be dependent without realising it.

    “Sometimes heavy drinking with work colleagues or friends can then turn into dependent drinking as a result of a bereavement, work stress, marriage difficulties or other problems.

    “If you find you are drinking dependently then it doesn’t mean you necessarily have to give up alcohol completely. Many people with support are able to get back to drinking in moderation.”

    He said people worried about their drinking should contact their GP, visit alcoholconcern.org.uk or call 0800 917 8282 to speak to Drinkline.