Star of Channel 4 show Skint was found dead in shed where he was sleeping ... trends now
The star of a controversial Channel 4 documentary was found dead in a shed where he had been sleeping rough after taking a lethal cocktail of drugs, an inquest heard.
Richard Finn, 45, was often found around the town of Grimsby where he grew up with his pet ferret Jet on his shoulder.
He had been sheltering in a resident's shed on Marlborough Close at the time of his death having been homeless for a year.
To many, he was known as 'Finny' or 'Little Richard' and was described as being larger than life.
The inquest heard that Mr Finn went into care at a young age before moving back in with his family.
Richard Finn, 45, who starred in the controversial Channel 4 show Skint, was discovered dead in a shed in September 2020
Mr Finn's family described him as a 'lovable rogue' who will 'never be forgotten'
Mr Finn became involved in the wrong crowd, turning to drink and drugs when he left school, both of which played a part in his death.
At an inquest led by coroner Jane Eatock at Cleethorpes Town Hall on Tuesday, his mother Ms Ward paid tribute to her son who she described as a 'lovable rogue'.
She said: 'Richard and his siblings witnessed his dad drink a lot of alcohol which no doubt rubbed off on them, I think this is one reason Richard was a big drinker himself.'
She added: 'He was a sociable young boy who had many friends. He would often go out first thing in a morning and only come back home when it was time to eat.
'He was never one for school and I don't think he was there as much as we thought he was.
'He left Phoenix House Academy in 1994 and got a job at Cherry Valley, which he loved. However, he couldn't hold it down for long and he never really had a job after that.'
Shortly after, Mr Finn started his first serous relationship with a woman who had three sons that he thought the world of.
But it was at this time that Mr Finn's drink and drug problem began to get worse and she left him after around five years together, the inquest heard.
Mr Finn starred in the controversial Channel 4 show Skint which was set in Grimsby
He would go on to have other long term relationships fathering two children in the process, daughters Sky and Blossom.
Mr Finn also had a son named Leo who was stillbirth, and whose grave he often visited.
His mother told the inquest that his was the only time Mr Finn showed his 'true emotions'.
In his adult life, he had many
