A Metropolitan Police control room operator died from a mixture of alcohol and prescribed drugs, an inquest heard.

Ann Watson, better known as Lorraine, 47, of Walshford Way, in Borehamwood, died on January 19 this year due to a morphine and ethanol overdose.

The inquest into her death was opened in May this year and concluded on Thursday where it was said she began drinking excessive alcohol after the death of her parents.

Coroner Geoffrey Sullivan concluded Mrs Watson had not taken the overdose with the intention to kill herself, but it was the mixture of alcohol and prescribed morphine and ethanol which contributed to her death.

During his summing up, Mr Sullivan said: “There is nothing to suggest this was a deliberate attempt to take her life.

“In my mind there is no evidence that the deceased willing did this to bring about the end of her life.

“I do not feel this is an appropriate conclusion.”

In 2012, Mrs Watson was diagnosed with foot drop which caused a great deal of pain in her right foot affecting her mobility.

She was admitted to Watford General Hospital in January 2016 but self-discharged herself as she was unhappy there.

Her neighbour Maggie Crossan who found Mrs Watson gave evidence during the inquest.

She said: “Two Sunday’s before her death I found her on the floor and she could not get up.

“I called the ambulance and she was taken to Watford General Hospital. I visited her on Monday in ICU and on Wednesday when she was moved onto the ward.

“She wanted to come home and she discharged herself. I continued to visit her over the weekend.”

Mrs Crossan said on the Monday Mrs Watson got a bag from out of the cupboard under the sink but was unable to get back up.

The next day Mrs Crossan found her on the floor of her home and the East of England Ambulance service helped Mrs Watson get back up.

On the Saturday before her death, Mrs Watson got a taxi to the shops as well as on Sunday where she got a taxi to Tesco, in Shenley Road, but she did not wear any shoes just socks.

Mrs Crossan visited her on the following Monday and Mrs Watson was sat in the dark on the sofa and she was refusing to eat or drink anything.

“I checked on her on the Tuesday and this was when I found her dead. She was lying on the floor next to her sofa,” she said.

Paramedics and police were called to Mrs Watson’s home but because rigor mortis had already begun no CPR was given to her.

Police Constable Rod Lawrence, from Borehamwood police, said at the inquest he attended the address and searched the body of Mrs Watson upon arrival.

PC Lawrence found blood in Mrs Watson’s mouth and nose but the death is not being treated as suspicious.