A Tube driver who was arrested for drinking while driving a train at Queensbury Station has been found dead the day before he was due in court.

Ian Comfort, 50, reportedly drank almost a whole bottle of vodka as he drove a northbound Jubilee train on March 22 with up to 500 passengers on board and was later arrested after failing to give a blood sample.

He clocked in at 6.20am and was found at 3pm ‘smelling strongly of alcohol’ after he failed to stop at Wembley Park for a driver-swap, instead continuing to Stanmore before turning the train round.

He was due to appear in Harrow Crown Court yesterday on two charges of being intoxicated in charge of a train and potentially faced jail.

But he was found dead at his home in the Woolwich area of south east London in the early hours of Sunday morning after reportedly collapsing.

A Met spokesman said: “Police were called by London Ambulance Service at 04:06hrs on Sunday, 27 April to a residential address on Prentiss Court, SE7.

“A 50-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been informed.”

Phil Hufton, LU’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are greatly saddened by the news of the death of our colleague. Our thoughts and condolences are with Ian’s friends and family, who we will provide with every possible support during this difficult time.”

The death is not being treated as suspicious.