The grieving daughter of a man poisoned with a lethal concoction of alcohol and drugs has spoken of her continued sadness after losing her dad.

Stephen McCullough’s body was found slumped against his front door in West Molesey at 7am on July 19 last year after a night at the Cannon pub, Surrey Coroner’s Court heard last week.

The 48-year-old was left there by a friend, drunk and staggering, but was found dead by passer-by Justin Collins at 7am the next morning.

Alcohol, methadone and diazepam were all found in Mr McCullough’s blood.

His daughter Tiffany, 25, said: “I want to know who left him there. They said he was looking ill. If I was with someone like that, I’d call an ambulance.

“I’m glad it wasn’t class A drugs that killed him but I’m really annoyed with him. I keep thinking ‘Why did you do it?’ In a way, I’m glad he died on a high because he didn’t want to be ill and die of cancer or something. He was so terrified of dying.”

Mr McCullough was an ex-heroin user but his daughter said he gave it up years ago, and had no idea how got methadone in his system.

He and wife Sharon, who was with him for 28 years, spent about nine years living rough, in a tent by the river and crashing on friend’s sofa, as they fought the council for accommodation.

Miss McCullough said he dabbled in drugs all his life but was never addicted to one and would just take whatever he got.

She said: “They could never get away from their bad circle of friends, even when he was being taken away in a body bag, they were all there watching and gave him no dignity.

“We thought we’d get more answers from the inquest and, although we got some, we didn’t get them all. I want to know he didn’t to die in pain, which would be the worst thing ever, but we still don’t know the whole story about what he was doing, where he went and who he was with.

“I cry every day. I feel so lost. I’m just numb inside. Even if I did find out exactly what happened, it wouldn't take the pain away.

After Mr McCullough’s death, mother-of-two Miss McCullough spoke to us to end rumours about his death.

Fabricated stories that he was stabbed or beaten to death spread fast, which had a devastating affect on his wife, with whom he had three children, including Thomas and Ryan.

Miss McCullough said: “I want it to be the end now. I want him to rest in peace, he deserves that. His name has been dragged through the mud but he's never hurt a single person. He was so gentle and loving.

“He used to annoy me too though because he could never stay away from the bad people. The only good thing that has come out of this is we are all so close now and he always wanted that.

“He loved his family more than anything and now we are all there for each other.”

Coroner Michael Burgess ruled it was an accidental death and described it as a terrible accident.