HOW a Newport man died remains a mystery, an inquest heard.

Peter McDonald’s body was discovered at his Bailey Street home by police on March 18, 2011 - around six weeks after he is believed to have died.

Although police found no evidence a crime had been committed, an inquest into his death heard it could not be ruled out.

Gwent Coroner’s court heard Mr McDonald’s lifestyle had become more alcohol dependent after he stopped working ten years ago and he began associating with people who were "less than desirable".

The inquest heard he took in a woman off the street and shortly after his wallet and other items started to go missing.

In the weeks before his death he told Julie Basham, a nurse at Fields Nursing Home where his partner lived, he was ill and in bed with leg pain.

Ms Basham alerted police when she realised Mr McDonald, 65, had not visited the home for some time.

Detective Constable Jodie Warren said investigations failed to find any evidence a crime had been committed, but because the house was in such a state and the body's condition the possibility a crime did happen could not be entirely ruled out.

She said two people living at the house arrested and dealt with by the courts, could not provide satisfactory explanations about Mr McDonald’s death.

A post mortem examination failed to establish a cause of death. There were no fresh injuries on the body, which would support evidence of an assault.

There were signs of old injuries, but these may have been associated with Mr McDonald’s alcohol-dependent lifestyle, the court heard.

Gwent Coroner David Bowen recorded an open verdict.

* Lisa Jane Collins, 35, of Devon Court, Caerleon and Nicholas Anthony Caio Morgan, 40, of Penygraig Terrace, Pontypool, both admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of Mr McDonald.

Collins, a schizophrenic, was detained under the mental health act to Caswell Clinic in Bridgend, while Morgan was jailed for ten months.