A BUSINESSMAN who was found dead with Clingfilm wrapped around his head was engaging in a sexual fetish that went terribly wrong, an inquest heard today.

Graphic designer Stephen Hayes, 31, of Audley Road, Chippenham, was also wearing yellow rubber marigolds when he died of asphyxia on March 24, earlier this year.

Stephen's then-girlfriend Louise Dix, 24, and his dad John, of Audley Road, gave evidence at the inquest at Trowbridge Town Hall this afternoon.

Using witness statements the coroner Peter Hatvany told the court that, the evening before Stephen died, he had been drinking in the Sir Audley Arms, Audley Road, with his dad and some friends before going home to watch sport on television.

John was the first to go to bed and all appeared to be well but the next morning he found his son dead in the bathroom with Clingfilm wrapped around his face, while wearing rubber gloves with one of the tips of a finger removed.

Mr Hatvany noted that by leaving the television on that night it suggested that Stephen had intended to go back to it.

Detective constable Geoff Morrison, based at the police headquarters in Devizes, examined Stephen's computer and found no evidence of a suicide letter but did find that he had visited three fetishism websites, including bondage and full facial latex and rubber masks websites.

Witness statements from his counsellor and his family identified that Stephen had battled with depression following the death of his brother Christopher from Muscular Atrophy when Stephen was 14 years old.

The inquest also heard that his parents split up a year later and then in 2001 he was involved in a relationship with a woman who stole from him.

His uncle Maxwell Hayes and Miss Dix, who was his girlfriend since 2006, both confirmed that Stephen had developed an alcohol problem over the years.

Miss Dix said that he had admitted to her that he took class-A drugs, namely cocaine, and that in 2001, before they were in a relationship, Stephen had attempted suicide by slitting his wrists.

In September 2006, Stephen sought help from a counsellor, Marilyn Gregson, but according to her witness statement Stephen had not shown any intention to take his life and the session two days before he died had been positive.

Despite previous suicide attempts, the coroner Peter Hatvany recorded a verdict of misadventure.

He said: "I cannot be satisfied that Stephen intended to take his own life. I have to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt and I cannot make that finding today.

"It is more likely that Stephen was looking to seek some solace from his sexual fetish.

"It is clear that things went very wrong while he was engaging in that activity. It was more than a mere accident; it was a deliberate act that took an unexpected course."