A coroner could not say when a man who was found floating in the River Kennett died as he was last seen nearly two weeks before he was discovered.

Steven Windebank, aged 59, was spotted floating attached to a shopping trolley on the Holybrook stretch of the river near the A33 on August 2, 2021.

However, the last time he was spotted was receiving benefit money at Reading Borough Council Offices on July 23.

At an inquest into his “very tragic” and “mysterious” death, coroner Ian Wade QC suggested Windebank used this money to buy cocaine, heroin and methadone, which were all found in his system after a post-mortem.

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Mr Wade, therefore, ruled his death an accident, suggesting Windebank most likely fell into the water while under the influence of drugs.

The coroner said he hoped this outcome might reassure the deceased’s family, who had questioned whether the 59-year-old had been murdered.

Reading Coroner’s Court heard from Lee Windebank, Steven’s nephew, who said his uncle had been homeless for many years.

 

Steven Windebank was last seen at Reading Borough Council offices almost two weeks before he died

Steven Windebank was last seen at Reading Borough Council offices almost two weeks before he died

 

The relative also said Windebank had fallen into water at a young age and suffered brain injuries.

Lee said in a statement: “Our concern is how he ended up in the river. He had a fear of water after his accident as a child. Our concern was that he had been murdered.

“Apart from his issues, he was a very cheeky chappy. He had just got his new flat weeks before his death after weeks of being on the streets.”

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The inquest heard how Windebank was discovered by a Royal Berkshire Hospital worker who had known the 59-year-old for some time from his previous visits to the hospital.

He described Windebank as being ‘quite dead’ when he discovered him as his body was ‘discoloured.’

Reading-based officer DC Amy Rogers gave live evidence at the inquest to say police had concluded Windebank had had an accident and slipped into the water.

She told the court that drug users frequently visited a well-hidden bank near to the Holybrook.

 

Steven Windebank was last seen at Reading Borough Council offices almost two weeks before he died

Steven Windebank was last seen at Reading Borough Council offices almost two weeks before he died

 

DC Rogers also said there was no suggestion Windebank had been met with any kind of violence.

A pathologist who carried out the post-mortem on Steven suggested he died from drowning having been under the influence of heroin, cocaine and methadone as these drugs were found in his system.

However, coroner Ian Wade QC changed this determination so that just drowning was confirmed as Windebank’s medical cause of death.

Summing up, Mr Wade said Windebank used council-issued benefit cash ‘unwisely’ before his death, referencing his consumption of the Class A drugs.

“I can not say when he died.

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“I find it unlikely he died from the effects of these drugs. I find it more likely he was suffering the debilitating effects of these drugs when he entered the Holybrook.

“If you are not in control of your faculties you are liable to slip and fall into the water.

“If you are under the influence of drugs you are unable to respond to the dangers.

“There is simply no evidence to suggest that he was attacked and what happened was unexpected, unwanted and out of the blue.”

Mr Wade ruled that Windebank’s death was an accident.

The inquest took place at Reading Coroner’s Court on Friday, May 27.