ENGLAND ACE DIED FLEEING COPS

A TOP cricketer, who was tipped for international stardom, was hit by a train as he tried to get away from police after a drink and drugs binge, an inquest heard.

Tom Maynard, 23, was nearly four times over the drink drive limit at the time of his death in the early hours of June 18 last year, and was a regular drug user.

Analysis of the England prospect’s hair revealed cocaine levels which was consistent with ‘regular or daily use’, Westminster Coroners Court heard.

Ecstasy was also found in his body proving he had taken the drug in the previous few months.

The inquest heard that Maynard, who had played for his Surrey Club hours before he died, had been out drinking with his two flatmates before deciding to drive to his glamour model girlfriend, Carly Baker’s home at 3.30am.

Police followed his black Mercedes C250 coupe after spotting him driving erratically but when they tried to stop him he got out his car and ran off.

Officers used sniffer dogs to search for him for 50 minutes but he was found dead on the tracks near Wimbledon Park tube station in south London hours later. It is believed he was hit by the first tube train of the day.

Pathologist Dr Simon Poole said he found burn marks on Maynard’s right foot, ankle and shin consistent with contact with a live railway track. But he said he was unable to say for sure if he had been electrocuted before or after he was run over.

Toxicologist Dr Fiona Perry said she believed he had taken cocaine in the ‘last day or so’ but said it could have been in the last few hours of his life.

A post-mortem found Maynard, of Wandsworth, south London, died of multiple injuries.

Maynard’s father, former England batsman Matthew Maynard, described his son as ‘sports mad’, and pals said ‘God knows where his talent would have led him’.

The inquest continues.