A widower living in Deal died after overdosing on the type of pills his late wife used, an inquest heard.

But it was not known where Abdulhassan Rajabi got the medicine as the tablets were cleared away after her death.

He passed away after mixing the overdose with excess alcohol, the hearing was told.

But a coroner concluded this was an accidental death, saying the evidence could not confirm suicide.

Bina Patel, area coroner covering north east Kent, said: “We cannot get to the bottom of where the drugs came from.”

She added: “We have not established that he intended to cause his death.”

Mr Rajabi, 33, had taken the same type of painkiller used by his wife Hannah Rajabi.

She had cancer for seven years, terminal for two years, and died on January 11, 2018.

A statement by Mr Rajabi’s mother-in-law, Susan Jasper, was read at the inquest hearing at the Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone. She had said that she cleared away her daughter’s prescribed medication from the flat. She later told Kentonline that her partner had taken them to the chemist for safe disposal.

Mr Rajabi, an Afghan-born taxi driver, was found dead at his flat in Scholars Way, Deal, on the night of Wednesday, May 8, this year.

Concerns grew when his family, living in Iran, tried to contact him but got no response.

"He was like a second son to me and made my daughter very happy" - Susan Jasper

Ms Jasper called round and could see through unclosed curtains that he was kneeling from the edge of the sofa.

Police and paramedics were called and he was pronounced dead.

A toxicology report later confirmed that Mr Rajabi had taken a fatal dose of medication.

It was also found he had alcohol in his system that would have made him almost twice the drink-drive limit.

Det Sgt Steve Mart said Mr Rajabi struggled to cope after his wife’s death. He said one woman friend of Mr Rajabi's said he was once drinking whiskey at 6am, which she considered abnormal.

He was also troubled by being diagnosed with glaucoma and had to take time off work.

His family had wanted him to join them in Iraq, where there was an arranged marriage for him.

Mr Rajabi's passport was found to be within easy reach at his home along with £2,500 cash as if in preparation for leaving the country, said DS Mart.

His brother Ali participated in the inquest through Skype from the USA and asked when he had actually died.

It could not be established when Mr Rajabi died after last being seen, by a neighbour, on May 4.

Nobody had heard from him since, the hearing was told.

Police could not get past his mobile phone’s password protector to find out when he last made and received calls.

Ms Patel said: “Clearly he was in a difficult position as to where his future was.

“He had the issue of his eyes and began drinking above the normal level.”

Police had concluded that the death was not suspicious and ruled out third party involvement.

After the inquest Ms Jasper said: “He was like a second son to me and made my daughter very happy.

“He will be very sadly missed.”

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