A HOMELESS shoplifter who died outside Trowbridge's Asda after the concealed alcohol bottles he had cut open his abdomen as he was tackled by a security guard, an inquest heard.

Kieran Church, 30, died after he was tackled to the ground by 20-year-old security guard outside Asda in Trowbridge on February 9. 

He died at 5.01pm after he suffered three wounds to his abdomen from the shattered alcohol bottles. 

Senior Coroner at Salisbury Coroner's Court, David Ridley, said on Tuesday how Mr Church, who had self harmed before and had drug and alcohol issues, often stole bottles of alcohol to sell for money. 

He was initially stopped by Mr Rose after leaving a Sainsbury's store with bottles of brandy, and handed the drink back.

Mr Rose said he spotted a syringe sticking out of Mr Church's pocket, and let him go to avoid a confrontation.

Later that afternoon, security staff in Asda saw Mr Church take two bottles alcohol from a shelf, hide them inside his jacket and leave the store.

Mr Rose, a Security Industry Authority-licensed guard, was walking to a local police station to hand in CCTV of the earlier incident when he saw Mr Church leave the supermarket.

Asda security guard Denise Thomas said in a written statement to the inquest: "This male was walking in the direction of the car park and cash machines and as he was walking away I politely and calmly said, 'excuse me', and he ignored me.

"A Sainsbury's security guard I didn't know ran at the male suspect from behind and he pounced on him."

Coroner David Ridley said: "Her view is that it was a clear act to take the male to the ground as opposed to detaining him standing up.

"It caused the male shoplifter to fall face down with the Sainsbury's security guard on top of him."

CCTV of the incident was played to the court.

Mr Rose described to the inquest how he planned to use a recognised detention technique to raise Mr Church's arms so he could not use anything in his pockets, such as a syringe.

"I wouldn't say I lost balance," he said.

The coroner asked: "Once contact is made, both of you lost balance and you fell on to Kieran?"

Mr Rose replied: "Yes. The first thing I did was take hold on his right wrist. Then it became apparent that it was really serious.

"The ambulance was called. It felt like a lifetime but it was probably only five or six minutes."

Mr Rose added: "After the earlier incident I didn't hear of Kieran being involved in anything else, so I assumed he had left the area.

"I knew he had failed to get what he wanted from our store, so it was only a matter of time before he tried elsewhere.

"Due to the needle he posed a risk. By chance of going into The Shires I spotted him again. You can follow and detain once you have got the crime reference number from the police."

Mr Church suffered a "catastrophic haemorrhage" and died shortly after the incident.

A post-mortem examination found he suffered three incised wounds to his abdomen which caused damage to his aorta and inferior vena cava.

Pathologist Amanda Jeffery said there was no evidence of restraint or use of force and gave a cause of death as "glass injuries to the abdomen".

Mr Ridley recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

He said: "The most appropriate conclusion is sadly Kieran died as the result of the unintended consequence of a deliberate act.

"There was never any intention to hit the deck - it was not a rugby tackle. I can see what Mr Rose was trying to do but it went wrong and they both fell to the ground."

After the inquest, Ms Hayes's partner shook Mr Rose's hand and told him: "We don't hold you responsible - it was an accident - and that's from all the family."