A LECTURER at Kent University at Canterbury, thought to be suffering depression, has plunged to his death from a block of flats.

John Bousfield, 56, a father of two children, lived alone in a top floor flat at Chaucer Court on the New Dover Road. He fell four floors.

Police and ambulance attended and found Mr Bousfield on the floor at the front of the block, beyond the car park. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

One man was taken into police custody for questioning the but was later released without charge.

The tragedy occurred at about 5pm on Friday. A police CID spokesman said: "The man appears to have been suffering from depression and we are treating the death as a suicide."

Mr Bousfield had been on the university staff for 29 years. He had been a religious studies tutor for the last 16 years with a speciality in Islam and modernity.

A departmental colleague, Prof Robin Gill, described Mr Bousfield as "a complex and sensitive man." He said: "A charismatic teacher, John was dedicated to his students both as a lecturer and a senior tutor."

Mr Bousfield joined the University staff in 1974 as a lecturer in philosophy.

He was described by a neighbour as "a quiet, private man who did not speak much about himself."

A message posted on the Kent University website said: "John will be sadly missed by students and academic colleagues alike."