A GROUP of teenagers daubed ketchup on a dying man on the living room floor of his flat.

The actions by the five - aged between 14 and 18 - were not those of human beings, said Gwent coroner David Bowen at the inquest into the death of Newport man Richard Arnold yesterday.

He said 32-year-old Mr Arnold was found bare-chested and with tomato sauce smeared on his waist.

There was also egg shell on his fingers, egg white on his hands, blood around his mouth and signs of vomit.

The cause of death remains a mystery and the coroner recorded an open verdict.

Mr Arnold's flat - on the Old Barn Estate, St Julians, Newport - was trashed with tomato ketchup and cooking oil thrown on the walls.

Mr Bowen said: "He was bare-chested and not only was his body subjected to utterly degrading treatment but it was also perpetrated by the group of youths who had been invited into his home. To describe them as human beings degrades that status.

"They do not deserve to be called that name. They did not care less whether he was alive or dead. \ "I'm satisfied, somewhat fortuitously for those involved in this degrading treatment, that their actions did not cause or contribute to his death." Police have completed their investigation into Mr Arnold's death and say no action is being taken against the youths who were initially arrested on suspicion of murder.

Speaking after the inquest Mr Arnold's father Glyn, 62, from Newport, said of the teenagers: "I think they are animals. It was a terrible thing to do, they should be disgusted with themselves."

Mr Arnold, known as Richie, was found lying dead at his flat last June. The inquest was told he was drinking with the five youths the night before. The amount of alcohol in Mr Arnold's blood was over five times the legal drink-drive limit. The inquest heard the gathering drank one litre of Jack Daniels and some cider.

Detective Sergeant Michael Hobbs said rumours had been rife that the youngsters poured cooking oil into Mr Arnold's mouth along with bleach and tablets. This was later proved to be untrue.

Dr Stephen Leadbeatter, consultant pathologist, said the cause of Mr Arnold's death could not be found.

He said there was 422mg of alcohol in 100ml of his blood, but because Mr Arnold was an alcoholic and his body could have been accustomed to high concentrations it might not have been fatal.

Dr Leadbeatter said that although Mr Arnold suffered epileptic seizures since he was assaulted six years ago this, too, was not a conclusive cause of death. There were no obvious problems with his heart.

"As we are unable to determine the cause of death the only correct action open to me is to record an open verdict," said Mr Bowen.

Glyn Arnold said he was satisfied with the verdict. He added: "We will just hang on to the fact that he just went to sleep peacefully and never woke up. Everybody loved Richard. He lit up the room. We will now close the book on Richard and put all this behind us."

His sister Clare, who is now living in Scotland and expecting her fourth child, added: "The inquest has given us closure and we are happy it is now over and done with."

Mr Arnold leaves a nine-year-old son, his sister, parents, Glyn and Marilyn and a brother Julian.