A father who struggled for years with addiction, died of alcohol and drug misuse, a coroner’s court heard.

John Crossley, who had two sons and two step-daughters, worked as an electrician and volunteered at the Welcome Centre which provides help to rough sleepers.

The 45-year-old collapsed at a friend’s house in Crystal Way, Chadwell Heath and, despite being resuscitated by ambulance crews, did not regain consciousness.

He died 10 days later after his life support machine was turned off at Queen’s Hospital, Romford.

An inquest into his death on Tuesday at Walthamstow Coroner’s Court, Walthamstow, heard that he was well liked by everyone at the Welcome Centre, St Marys Road, Ilford.

Giving evidence, his sister Maryann Bain, said: “He helped homeless people get back into work and was greatly respected and liked both by staff and people attending the centre. He had a drink problem and went to counselling and rehab.”

On December 2 2011, Mr Crossley, of Daffodil Gardens, Ilford was socialising outside Redbridge Police Station, High Road, Ilford before leaving with a friend.

The pair bought heroine and cocaine before going to Crystal Way where Mr Crossley later collapsed.

Peter Roe, from the ambulance service, attended and said the address was flagged on their system as somewhere crews had previously been threatened with violence.

Mr Roe said: “We were told not to enter until the police were there but given the nature of the call we decided to go in wearing stab vests. We took over the resuscitation process and were told he had a history of drug and alcohol misuse.”

He was taken to Queen’s Hospital but had suffered brain damage and the life support machine was turned off on December 13.

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe said: “He died as a result of a lack of oxygen to the brain and that’s been contributed to by a fatty liver.

“Long term alcoholism and cocaine use had contributed to his death. He died as a result of alcohol and drug misuse.”