A HOMELESS man who was found hanging in a St Albans city centre phone box has been identified as 42-year-old Andrew Pereira. Police were called to the pay phone on St Peter s Street opposite Barclays Bank at 6.45pm last Thursday, where Mr Pereira was slum

A HOMELESS man who was found hanging in a St Albans city centre phone box has been identified as 42-year-old Andrew Pereira.

Police were called to the pay phone on St Peter's Street opposite Barclays Bank at 6.45pm last Thursday, where Mr Pereira was slumped on the floor with the telephone cord wrapped around his neck.

Mr Pereira had no fixed abode and since the beginning of July he had been staying at a temporary night shelter in the city, which is currently housing people who usually sleep at the Open Door shelter in Bricket Road while it's being refurbished.

But on the day of his death, staff at the Bricket Road centre refused to let Mr Pereira on the evening minibus which transports residents to the temporary shelter because of his intoxicated state.

David Bogle, chief executive of the Hightown Praetorian and Churches Housing Association, which manages the shelter, said that Mr Pereira was in clear breach of the rules of admittance.

He added: "Mr Pereira, who was referred to us by a mental health unit in Watford, was deemed by staff to be unable to manage himself and that's why he wasn't allowed on the transport minibus. We're not a treatment shelter and simply can't take people who are incapable through drugs or drink."

"Mr Pereira told staff that he would book into a B&B and there was no indication that he was suicidal. Understandably, the Open Door staff who dealt with him are extremely upset by the whole situation and are still in a state of shock."

An inquest into Mr Pereira's death was opened and adjourned yesterday (July 27) and a Herts County Council spokesperson confirmed that he died of a vasovagal attack caused by constriction of the neck.