Barrymore 'rubbed cocaine in mouth' of partygoer who died

Michael Barrymore refused to answer questions yesterday about whether cocaine had been taken at his house the night a partygoer drowned in his swimming pool.

As the Essex coroner investigating Stuart Lubbock's death repeatedly pressed the entertainer on whether he had seen any drugs that night, he replied: "I am not prepared to answer that question."

Mr Barrymore's barrister, Michael Mansfield, told the Essex inquest that the entertainer was availing himself of the protection offered by the coroner's Rule 22 – not to incriminate oneself.

Mr Barrymore, aged 50, was appearing for the first time yesterday on the fourth day of an inquest in Epping. The inquest had be told that Mr Barrymore invited Mr Lubbock, a factory supervisor, 31, and a small group back to his house in Roydon, Essex, for an impromptu party, after leaving a local club in the early hours of the 31 March last year.

Three hours later, Mr Lubbock, who had two children, was found dead in the pool. Pathologists said he had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, four or five ecstasy tablets and cocaine. Some suggested that his severe injuries indicated he had been sexually assaulted.

Yesterday at the inquest, two of the guests from the party accused Mr Barrymore of forcing cocaine into the young man's mouth. "I saw Michael Parker [the entertainer's real name] take some cocaine out in the kitchen. When he offered it to Stuart, he said no," Kylie Merritt said. She added: "I saw Mr Parker put some cocaine on his finger and rub it on Mr Lubbock's gums. He pulled away."

Mr Mansfield challenged the witness's account, pointing out to her and her brother, Justin Merritt, that they had failed to mention any drugs to police, describing the incident only after being paid £30,000 by the News of the World newspaper. Mr Merritt replied: "It has come to me since."

It then fell to Mr Barrymore to give evidence. Arms crossed and steely faced, he sat looking out across the coroner's court at Mr Lubbock's mother, father, brother and former partner, who were sitting opposite.

When Matthew Gowen, representing the family, cross-examined Mr Barrymore on the events of that night, he gave terse replies, at times merely nodding ascent. But when the barrister asked whether he was aware police had found cocaine in his house, he returned to his earlier reply three times: "I am not prepared to answer that question.''

Only when challenged on whether it was him who had rubbed cocaine into Mr Lubbock's mouth did he offer a curt "No it was not". Later, he also denied having given Mr Lubbock ecstasy.

Earlier, Mr Barrymore had conceded that, after a night at a Harlow club to cheer himself up because of his recent divorce and mother's illness, he had taken Mr Lubbock and two other virtual strangers back to his house. Others followed later.

Mr Barrymore – described as drunk and foul-mouthed by the taxi driver who drove them to Roydon – said: "I am an alcoholic but I am a dry one at the moment." He said Mr Lubbock had seemed very happy when the guests enjoyed the Jacuzzi and congregated in different rooms in the house. His injuries, he implied, might have been caused by dive-bombing into the pool, though he said later that they could not have been received at his house.

Having last seen Mr Lubbock heading towards the Jacuzzi, the presenter had emerged from the house with two other male guests approximately half an hour later. "I was walking along and, as I looked down, I saw Stuart, I said before, floating, but he seemed to be lying towards the bottom of the pool face up."

As the others fished him out, Mr Barrymore ran back into the house to get his boyfriend at the time, Jonathan Kenney. "I grabbed Jonathan, who I knew had life-saving experience, and said there is somebody in the pool.''

As the guests tried to resuscitate him, an ambulance was called. Mr Lubbock was declared dead in hospital.

Mr Barrymore admitted that he had panicked and fled the house, saying: "It was not the right thing to do. I got myself into a complete state. It was just one thing after the other. It was like your worst dreams come true.'' He added: "There was simply no build up to it. In your mind, you can see an accident coming towards you but not if you just walk out and your whole world changes there and then.''

Clearly aware of the huge media presence in the packed public gallery above him, the entertainer often gazed upwards. Later, his solicitor revealed that he had complained to the attorney general about the scale of the press coverage.

After Mr Lubbock's drowning, Mr Barrymore was cautioned for possession of cannabis and for allowing his premises to be used for smoking the drug. Mr Kenney, aged 31, and Mr Merritt, 26, were arrested in connection with the death but no charges were brought against them.

The inquest continues.