A MAN who had Down's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease died after suffering a broken pelvis, an inquest heard yesterday.

Harry Howe, 61, who lived at a Mencap residential home, in Wellbeck Avenue, Darlington, was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection by his GP and was given antibiotics.

But hours later, care workers at the home had to call an ambulance when he started convulsing. He died later that day in hospital of haemorrhaging and shock, in January last year.

The Darlington inquest heard that he was also suffering from osteoporosis, which left his bones very weak.

Police investigated the incident, but Inspector Philip Curtis, of Darlington police, said there was no evidence that anyone had purposely broken Mr Howe's pelvis. The pathologist said that the break could have been caused by a slight knock.

He said: "No one we interviewed knew how the break had been caused and there was no reason to suppose it was criminal after the pathologist's report showed he had osteoperosis," he said.

Care workers told how Mr Howe loved line dancing at the Cowboy Club, in Darlington, until he broke his neck in a fall about six months before his death.

Care worker Hilary Worrall described him as "absolutely adorable", and her colleague, Anthony Stubbs, said he had been very well known and well liked around Darlington.

But Mr Stubbs said Mr Howe had become more withdrawn after his broken neck, which had initially gone unnoticed by doctors.

In his pathologists' report, Mr Sunter said the broken neck had healed by the time of Mr Howe's death and the two events were not connected.

Darlington coroner Colin Penna recorded a verdict of misadventure