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A dad-of-two was stabbed to death with a kitchen knife by a transgender woman in a booze and drug -fuelled rage, an inquest heard.

Eric Flanagan, 26, received multiple wounds in what one medic described as 'the worst stabbing I've seen during my time with the ambulance service'.

He died in hospital exactly a month later of pneumonia and hypoxic-ischaemic brain damage caused by the injuries suffered in the unprovoked and 'frenzied attack'.

Jenny Swift, 49, who was born Jonathan Swift and had been taking non-prescription hormones to transition to a woman, was charged with the attempted murder of Flanagan.

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But the former soldier, from Seaforth, Merseyside, was found hanged in her cell at the male-only HMP Doncaster prison on December 30 last year.

Senior Coroner Nicola Mundy recorded a conclusion of unlawful killing at Flanagan's inquest on Wednesday and said she was satisfied the attack was unprovoked.

An inquest at Doncaster Coroner's' Court heard, he was stabbed numerous times to the face, chest and right arm before being attacked with a broken shovel on November 15 last year.

The attack took place at the home of Howard Smith, who had agreed to let Swift, a long-standing friend, stay with him for a few days.

Flanagan, from Doncaster, south Yorks., who did odd jobs for Smith, had been working in the garden on the day of the attack.

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Giving evidence, Paul Kirkham, another friend of Smith's, described how in the run-up to the shocking attack he, Swift and Smith had been drinking and had taken crack cocaine.

Kirkham said he was first alerted to the attack when he heard shouting coming from the kitchen as he walked down the stairs.

"He [Swift] was shouting something along the lines of 'you f*****g grass'. I heard Eric shouting as well."

Kirkham said he then saw Swift pick up a red-handled kitchen knife from the sink area and stab Flanagan in the chest, which caused him to fall to floor, and then continued stabbing him.

"I shouted and said: 'stop f****** doing that," he added.

He turned round and gave me the evilest look I've ever seen, and I knew he would go for me next so I popped out the back door and ran away."

Swift fled the property in Balby, south Yorks., shortly after the attack.

Detective Constable Benjamin Harris told the court that police later found Swift covered in blood and lying on grass near to the Hare and Tortoise pub in Bawtry Road, Bessacarr.

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During the hearing, DC Harris said that while in police custody Swift, who had served in Iraq with the armed forces, said she'd hold her hands up and do her time'.

He said that whilst in custody Swift had been assessed as having personality disorder issues.

Following Flanagan's death, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge of murder but Swift was found hanged in her cell at HMP Doncaster before she could be formally charged.

In a statement read out in court, Flanagan's mother, Carol Flanagan, said of her son: "I would describe him as a bit of a soft touch, who would do anything for anyone.

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"He was not in the least bit prone to violence, which makes the manner of his death all the more shocking."

"He loved music and dancing and had a great sense of humour. Despite his difficulties, there was always a sense that all he needed was to find a focus and his full potential would be realised."