A MAN found dead on the communal steps of his Teignmouth home on December 23 was identified by his fingerprints.

The opening of an inquest in Torquay on Thursday last week on 62-year-old Andrew Whiteley heard that Simon Fisk, a fingerprint expert from Exeter, had identified Mr Whiteley by direct fingerprint comparison.

Coroner's officer Stephanie Teague said further enquiries had ascertained that Mr Whiteley was born in Manchester in December 1949, was unemployed and lived at 7 Barnpark Terrace.

He was also known as Andrew Lowry.

Ms Teague said that on Friday, December 23, it was believed Mr Whiteley had been drinking with friends and on leaving the premises was found collapsed at the bottom of some communal steps.

He was confirmed dead at the scene.

She added that the cause of death had yet to be ascertained.

The Torbay and South Devon coroner, Ian Arrow, adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.