A coroner has blasted police for the way they investigated the death of a man in Bolton.

Steven Glaister was found dead at his home on Bradford Road on April 21 this year.

Bolton Coroners Court heard police initially assumed the death was related to alcohol and did not collect all  the medication which was at scene.

However it later emerged the 59-year-old had not died as a result of this.

The cause of death was given by pathologists as morphine toxicity which was exacerbated by a pulmonary actinomycosis in the lung which weakened his respiratory system.

The court heard he had suffered an accident on his bike on April 16 and had gone to hospital but had discharged himself with catheters still attached.

Coroner Timothy Brennand was satisfied the morphine given at hospital had not contributed to his death.

Glaister had been involved in an attempt to take his own life in 2019 when he jumped off Westminster Bridge.

But police failed to carry out a background check which would have revealed that Glaister had this history.

Police Constable Sophie Standing, who attended the scene, was asked by the coroner: “It took me 30 seconds on my mobile phone to put the name Steven Glaister in and find information that he was involved in jumping off Westminster Bridge.

“What goes through a police officer’s mind when they across a 59-year-old who died having not been seen for 48 hours?”

She replied: “For me to go on my phone and starting googling his name is not very professional.

“I rely on communication on the radio.”

The officer had passed the matter up to Detective Sergeant Angela Payne, who did not carry out a Police National Computer (PNC) check or declare it subject to a Special Procedure Investigation (SPI.)

She was asked by the coroner why these had not been done.

She said: “I could have done these things but I did not.”

The coroner said: “I sent an invitation for you to see me in chambers personally, I wanted to see you privately.

“This is not what I wanted.”

The coroner concluded: “On April 16 he sustained a shoulder injury that required manual manipulation.

“He has attended at hospital where he has self discharged thereafter.

“He was to experience significant pain.

“The particular circumstances in which he was to take morphine and the particular amount is not revealed in the evidence.

“The death can be categorised as an accident.”

He added: “Part of the reason I am unable to identify the particular circumstances is the police investigation.

“Potentially important exhibits were not seized.

“That has exacerbated the problems I have experienced.”

Speaking after the inquest relatives of Mr Glaister said: “He was our brother, and we loved him.

“He battled with his mental health.

“He fell through the cracks.”