A former rugby league star was found dead in a Florence hotel room after beating his girlfriend while high on drink and drugs, an inquest has heard.

The naked body of Ricky Bibey, 40, was discovered in the room at the Continentale Hotel in the Italian city on July 16, 2022. 

The former rugby league star, a father-of-three from Oldham, Greater Manchester, died of 'neck compression', a post mortem concluded. 

Now his former partner has spoken of how he inflicted life-changing injuries on her in the run-up to his death.

Estate agent Jennie Platt told an inquest how she 'fought back' during a clash with the 6ft 2in former athlete, who weighed almost 19 stone, before passing out during a violent struggle.

She described how after she challenged him about snorting cocaine in the bathroom he came at her with 'glazed eyes' looking 'like a demon'.

Mr Bibey's life had become a 'spiral' of drugs and alcohol after retiring from the sport, with his behaviour increasingly 'erratic', she told the hearing.

The businesswoman was initially interviewed as a suspect by Italian police who treated the case as a potential murder, the hearing was told, before concluding there was no foul play.

Now a coroner in Rochdale has agreed, saying Ms Platt's injuries were 'not compatible with her being responsible for any act of violence'. 

Recording an open verdict, Lisa Judge said that although the evidence showed Mr Bibey placed the ligature around his own neck, it did not establish on the balance of probabilities whether at the time he intended to end his own life.

Mr Bibey played for Wigan Warriors, Leigh Centurions, St Helens and Wakefield Trinity. He twice won the Challenge Cup.

But an inquest into his death held at Rochdale Coroners' Court on Tuesday heard he had struggled with mental health problems and drug addiction after his retirement from the game. 

Ms Platt, his on-off partner at the time of his death, told the inquest her injuries left her in intensive care and requiring multiple surgeries.

Giving evidence remotely, she said she had travelled to Italy with Mr Bibey in an attempt to resurrect their relationship which started three-and-a-half years earlier.

He had spent periods receiving residential treatment for his drug and alcohol addiction at Sporting Chance clinic, a charity for current and former athletes suffering with addiction, visiting the clinic a final time in January 2020. 

His father then paid for him to attend a private rehab clinic, but he relapsed after each intervention despite telling his family he was determined to turn things around, the court was told.

'His taking drugs, it was just like a bit of a spiral really,' Ms Platt said. 

'It was almost like a crutch for him when he was really struggling and he would just go off. 

'Sometimes he would go off for days and we would not see him for a few days. 

'Then he would be upset with himself and apologetic. 

'It was like he was disgusted with himself,' she added, saying he 'felt really lost'.

Mr Bibey had a property portfolio and a window cleaning business, but it 'wasn't work that kept him busy every day', she said. 

Before the trip to Italy, his behaviour had become 'really erratic' and he had 'gone off the rails', according to Ms Platt.

The court heard how the couple had determined to see if they could 'make things work'.

But he went 'on a bender' days before the Italy trip, according to Ms Platt, who said she told him during a conversation on Facetime she had decided not to go.

She said she then changed her mind when he showed her a noose in his flat.

She described how, once in Florence, the pair went out. 

He purchased a bottle of prosecco, gave her one glass and then he 'downed the rest', she said. 

Mr Bibey kept 'disappearing' and she told the court she thought he was buying drugs. She admitted she also consumed some drugs.

When they returned to their room at the Hotel Continentale, Ms Platt said she went to the bathroom and she heard him snorting cocaine in the bedroom. 

She said she asked him what he was doing, and said told him she would get another room for the night.

She then told the court she agreed to stay, but when she grabbed a duvet to sleep in the bathroom he 'yanked her out'.

Ms Platt said she 'fought back' and later thought he had left the room.

When she heard a knock at the door, she believed it was the concierge coming to check on her because of the 'quite heated argument' they had been having. 

But when Mr Bibey entered, she told the court 'it was like it wasn't him'.

'It was like his eyes,' she said. 

'It was like a demon. His eyes were quite glazed and then it was like a big argument,' she added saying he 'was getting really agitated'.

Ms Platt said she suggested she get another room and he said 'No you're not' and 'no one is leaving the room tonight'.

'I told him I'm really scared and he's scaring me. 

'I told him I was really scared.'

Ms Platt said she told him: 'Will you stop it I'm really scared.'

Sobbing, Ms Platt said Mr Bibey grabbed her as she was 'scrambling to get away' and was kicking him 'as hard as I could'. 

She said she was shouting the names of her sons to try and stop him but she 'just could not get away'.

Ms Platt said she remembered her 'last breath' before losing consciousness. 

When she came round on the bathroom floor, she said she saw Mr Bibey 'hanging' with a ligature around his neck.

She said she believed she was screaming for help 'but no noise was coming out'. She said she attempted to resuscitate him without success and then banged on the door of a room opposite to get help.

Ms Platt ended up in intensive care in hospital and was left with 'life-changing' injuries after a number of surgeries, the inquest heard.

She was unaware of how she was hurt until Italian investigators showed her photographs.

The inquest heard Mr Bibey had appeared 'dishevelled and confused' when he went to the hotel reception three-and-half hours before his death, claiming he had been struck to the head.

When she was well enough, Ms Platt was interviewed as a suspect rather than as a witness by Italian police who treated the case initially as a potential murder, Detective Inspector Clare Harrison of Greater Manchester Police told the court.

Detectives in Florence later decided to take no further action against her, concluding she was so badly hurt she 'physically would not have been able' to apply the force required to his neck.

Pathologist Dr Charles Wilson, who conducted a second post mortem examination once the body had been repatriated, recorded the cause of death as 'neck compression', just as the Italian autopsy had concluded. 

He admitted, however, his post mortem had been 'compromised' as many organs had been removed by the post mortem in Italy for analysis.

He noted a number of injuries including a bruise on the scalp and abrasions to the head, neck, limbs and right wrist with more bruising on his knuckles of his right hand. He said he could find no ligature marks to the front or back of the neck. 

Abrasions to his nose indicated he had probably either been pinched on the nose or he had snorted cocaine, said Dr Wilson.

The injuries were 'entirely consistent' with the evidence from the hotel room. 

The pathologist said he could not say from the post-mortem medical evidence whether the neck compression had been self-inflicted or caused by someone else.

Toxicology tests conducted by the Italian authorities revealed cocaine in Mr Bibey's system although the amount 'wasn't high', said Dr Wilson. 

The tests also indicated alcohol consumption, the court was told.

He admitted the pattern of ligature marks on Mr Bibey's neck - none at the front or back - were 'a bit perplexing' and did not 'fall into any pattern to suggest self-suspension hanging'.

The director of Sporting Chance, Colin Bland, said in a statement Mr Bibey was first referred to the charity in 2017, spending a month in its Hampshire clinic.

He attended again in 2019 after Mr Bibey 'attempted to hang himself', and again in 2021. 

He received more treatment from the charity, set up by former Arsenal and England defender Tony Adams, in 2022.

Mr Bibey spent two months at another rehab clinic in 2022, Acquiesce in Bolton, paid for by his father.

His father Ronald Bibey told the inquest his son had been 'a very happy child, curious and adventurous' who excelled at sport, always had a 'cheeky smile' and was a 'happy-go-lucky' child. 

He had a 'natural flair for rugby', said Mr Bibey senior.

Rugby had 'instilled a great work ethic' and discipline which he maintained all his life, said Mr Bibey snr. 

His mental health deteriorated when a ruptured Achilles tendon forced his retirement from professional rugby, according to his father.

'Like most people's lives, he made mistakes along the way and he's never too shy to take responsibility or say sorry,' said Mr Bibey snr.

He continued: 'Ricky was very much loved and adored by his family and friends and by others in the community who he helped, loved and supported. 

'We can never put into words just how loved he was and how proud he made us.'

Recording an open verdict, Assistant Coroner Ms Judge recorded the medical cause of death as 'neck compression'.

She found that Mr Bibey had been 'floundering' after his retirement from rugby which had provided him with 'structure' and 'purpose'. 

The consumption of drugs and alcohol prior to his death 'materially affected his personality and judgement', she said.

Ms Judge said she accepted the account provided by Ms Platt who had been 'subjected to serious violence by Ricky Bibey' and she had acted to 'defend herself'. 

Her injuries were 'not compatible with her being responsible for any act of violence' while she had suffered 'exceptional trauma'.

She said of Mr Bibey: 'His behaviour had become irrational and confused and markedly different from his usual presentation.'

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