A burglar was found dead in a front garden after he slashed open his leg during a break-in at a solicitor’s office.

Police discovered the body of Kane Clarke, 53, after they were called to a house in Delaunays Road, Crumpsall, in the early hours of April 27 this year.

An inquest was told Mr Clarke had a gaping leg wound and officers discovered a trail of blood leading across the road to Deen Wahid solicitors, which was found to have been burgled.

More than £13,000 of damage was caused to the solicitor’s office during the burglary and large holes were found in a glass partition. A safe, two computers, a bag and a phone were stolen.

Det Sgt Chris Flint, who investigated Mr Clarke’s death, said a large amount of blood was found in the office, which matched Mr Clarke’s DNA. His fingerprints and prints matching his footwear were also found at the scene.

Police went to the scene after they were called by a man who attended North Manchester General Hospital at 4.10am.

The man said he was afraid to go home because a man had forced his way in with a stolen safe deposit box.

He and another man were arrested and interviewed by police as part of the investigation.

One of the men admitted he had been with Mr Clarke, but Det Sgt Flint said there was no evidence to suggest any person other than Mr Clarke had been in the areas of the building where the burglary took place.

He said: “It’s clear from the evidence that the deceased was solely responsible for the break-in.”

Home Office pathologist Dr Philip Lumb said Mr Clarke had a gaping wound on his right leg and another large wound on his right thigh. The pattern of injuries suggested he had been injured while kicking the glass panel.

Tests showed traces of cocaine, cannabis and alcohol in his body.

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The inquest was told Mr Clarke had a happy childhood in Cheetham Hill, but had grown distant from his family and had been in prison several times.

Assistant coroner Nick Stanage’s verdict was that Mr Clarke’s death was misadventure. He died from a haemorrhage from the wound on his leg.

He said: “The deceased was found dead in the front garden. A forensic post-mortem showed the deceased had sustained a lower limb wound as his leg passed through a large glass plate.”