A man who took his own life in his flat was due in court that day, an inquest heard.

Jason Toomey, 38, who lived in New Town Green, Ashford, was found dead at around 8.40am on Thursday, July 25.

Mr Toomey, a steel erector, was set to face charges in court that day for assault, criminal damage and stalking - charges he denied.

The inquest heard he was suffering from mental health issues and had made an “identical” attempt just months earlier.

Det Sgt Simon Johnson, who investigated the incident, said: “He was down to face charges and he had intended to go to court with his family, to support him.”

The evening before, he had accompanied his family to the French Connection restaurant in Ashford’s Orbital Park.

DS Johnson added: “The family tried calling Mr Toomey and they arrived at his home address and gained entry into the block but there was no reply.”

Police investigations found letters addressed to different people in his family and confirmed they had not been written directly before he took his own life.

DS Johnson said that some of them had been written on prison paper when he was on remand.

“He clearly at the time had a number of personal problems arising.." - Coroner Christine Freedman

The post-mortem examination ruled that Mr Toomey had 148 millilitres of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood which made him more than three times over the drink driving limit.

It had also shown that he had taken cocaine.

The cause of death was neck suspension.

The hearing was told there was no third party involvement or suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

Assistant coroner Christine Freedman said: “He had some mental health problems which had caused him to consider self harming and in March of this year to make a serious attempt.

“He clearly at the time had a number of personal problems arising from the termination of his relationship and problems with seeing his daughter.

“It appears from the police investigation that the steps he took on July 25 were identical to those he had began in March. Sadly on this occasion his planning and preparation resulted in his death.”

Mrs Freedman recorded a verdict of suicide.

In August arsonists were condemned by family friends who had seen Mr Toomey’s belongings burnt in the street.

Items from the flat where he had lived for nearly 20 years were removed and placed in the street, waiting to be picked up by the Hippo collection service.

An Ashford Borough Council spokesman confirmed at the time that Mr Toomey had been a council house tenant and said keys were given to his family in order to clear the property.

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