Mr Lee Middleton died on December 23rd, 2006 after falling from a sixth-storey balcony at his hotel in Bangkok, but an inquest at Burnley Coroner's Court heard that he had sent worried text messages to friends back home saying he was in trouble with the local mafia.

It also emerged that police in this country had struggled to get information from the Thai authorities about his death. Mr Middleton, who lived in the Skipton Road area of Colne, and worked at Earby firm Wardle Storey, died in hospital several days after the fall just days into his holiday. He suffered serious head injuries and had two brain operations, but remained in a coma.

The inquest heard how the 34-year-old was staying at the Chaplin's Bar guest house 90 miles from Bangkok, but despite paying for three weeks' stay there he left suddenly after a week and travelled to Bangkok.

His friend and workmate Mr Darren Stansfield told the inquest that he and two other men had received text messages from Mr Middleton while he was staying at Chaplin's Bar saying he was in trouble with the mafia.

Mr Stansfield said: "The text messages said that he was in trouble and that men were waiting outside the guest house for him. We advised him to leave there. Lee was not a trouble-maker, he kept himself to himself and didn't go out drinking at home. He would stay in and save for his holidays."

His mother Mrs Heather Britner said there was "no way" her son would have committed suicide. She told how after his death she rang the manager of Chaplin's guest house, who had made friends with her son, but said his replies were "very evasive".

She said: "Lee loved travel and planned his trips in meticulous detail. When he died he was already planning for the following year, there was no stopping him. However, I know that something went on at that guest house. When I spoke to the manager he seemed very vague and evasive. I heard his wife in the background telling me to get the British police because Thai people were very bad."

Det. Sgt Ruth Chew, of Nelson CID, said she was very frustrated in getting information from the authorities in Thailand.

She said: "There was some cause for concern in the text messages to his friends. A brick was found on his bed, which perhaps was for protection. I'm not happy with the information we've received or not received.

"We were told Lee arrived at the hotel with whisky but his mother assures us he did not touch whisky. There were no financial problems or anything to suggest he took his own life. I believe he may have jumped out of fear, either perceived or because someone else was in the room."

Home Office Pathologist Dr Naomi Carter conducted the second post-mortem examination on the body when it returned to Britain. She said it was impossible to do toxicology tests because the body had been embalmed before leaving Thailand.

East Lancashire Coroner Mr Richard Taylor expressed regret that questions remained unanswered and that none of the evidence pointed in any specific direction. He said he was left with no choice but to record an open verdict.