WORLD-famous artist David Hockney's assistant Dominic Elliott was under the influence of drugs when he drank concentrated sulphuric acid and died.
Mr Hockney's ex-partner, John Fitzherbert, rushed 23-year-old Mr Elliott to Scarborough Hospital, where the artist's assistant was pronounced dead.
An inquest into his death heard how, prior to drinking the toilet cleaner in Mr Hockney's Bridlington home in March, Mr Elliott had taken cocaine, ecstasy and temazepam.
Mr Fitzherbert told yesterday's inquest he called Jean Pierre De Lima, who also lives in the house, from Scarborough Hospital, to get rid of the drugs.
"I suggested cleaning up the premises to shield David from the scandal of the drugs in the house," he said at Hull Coroner's Court.
Mr Hockney was in the house at the time, but was unaware of what had happened, until he was awoken by Mr De Lima, who said Mr Elliott was dead.
The artist, who suffered a mini-stroke a couple of months ago, slept in the other side of the house, as Mr Elliott drank and smoked cannabis in bed with Mr Hockney's ex-partner Mr Fitzherbert.
A statement from Mr Hockney was read out at the inquest, as he did not attend.
It said: "I've known Dominic for ten years.
"He mainly worked for me from Monday to Friday and would come to my home and go to the relevant studio to help facilitate my painting and drawings.
"I've only known him on a professional level and not on a social level.
"When he was drunk, he could become angry and was like Jekyll and Hyde."
Mr Hockney also said Mr Elliott was "extremely fond" of Mr Fitzherbert and had been in a relationship with him for about four years.
His statement said he had not seen Mr Elliott on the night he had died and knew nothing about what had happened until he was told the news by Mr De Lima.
Mr Fitzherbert, who has known Mr Hockney for 24 years, and was his partner until four years ago, said: "I met Dominic at a barbecue. We became friends after that.
"He was a very bright lad. He used to drink quite a lot.
"On Friday, March 15, he texted me at midnight to ask if he could come around.
"He said he was a bit down in the dumps after an incident when he had been excluded from a group photograph.
"We watched a film and chatted and drank and smoked some cannabis."
The pair stayed up all night, and ended up going to bed at noon the next day.
"I heard David and John Pierre leave in the car. Dominic got up from the bed, laughing hysterically, and then threw himself off a balcony in the house, which was about a nine or 10ft drop.
"He was laughing hysterically and got into bed and fell asleep in my arms."
It was at 4am on the Sunday when Mr Elliott, a keen hockey and rugby player, told Mr Fitzherbert he needed to go to hospital.
"It was 4am and he was standing at the end of my bed in his underpants," he said.
"He said 'take me to hospital'.
"I asked him what was wrong but he did not answer."
Mr Fitzherbert told the inquest Mr Elliott did not express any pain on the way to hospital.
He said: "He was clear and fine and was able to dress unaided.
"In the car he lost consciousness and became floppy. There were no signs of pain."
Dr Richard Shepherd, who carried out the post mortem, told the inquest the acid in the cleaner severely burned Mr Elliott's lips, tongue and throat before perforating his stomach.
The inquest is due to conclude today.
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