The exact circumstances surrounding the death of a beloved pub landlord cannot be confirmed on the collected evidence, an inquest has heard.

Joe Daniels, 58, was found unresponsive in the living quarters above the Red Cow in Foord Road, Folkestone, just before 11.30am on Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

He had suffered an injury consistent with a gunshot and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The inquest at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone heard that the pistol and ammunition found at the scene next to Mr Daniels' body belonged to the publican.

A statement from a family friend, read out by DS Shelley Chantler, said the father-of-one had shown his friends a pair of handguns that he had in his possession - one of which would inflict the fatal wound just a day later.

It is not known why he had the weapons but the pistol that fired in the incident only had the Liverpudlian's DNA on it.

The inquest also heard how Mr Daniels was in a large amount of finanial debt- to the tune of £101,451.

Of this amount, he owed just over £37,000 in individual loans to friends, as well as owing a VAT bill of around £9,000.

DS Chantler told the court that none of his individual friends were aware that he had borrowed from anyone else, and that he had paid loans back in the past.

A financial report said that Mr Daniels "Was clearly struggling to maintain the pub as a business, while maintaining the façade of being a successful businessman."

He was due to meet with the brewery that owned the pub to re-sign the lease on November 24, two days after his untimely death.

The ensuing police investigation lead to two men being arrested in January 2018 and February 2019 respectively, both of whom are due to appear in Canterbury Crown Court on Monday, charged with firearms offences.

"Mr Daniels was clearly very popular and... the life of the party"

One man was charged with two counts of selling a prohibited weapon, possession of a firearm without a certificate, possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate and converting an imitation firearm into a firearm.

The second man was charged with two counts of selling a prohibited weapon, being concerned in the supply of class B drugs and conspiring to supply class B drugs.

Police say that both men have been eliminated as suspects in direct relation to Mr Daniels' death.

Area Coroner Katrina Hepburn told the inquest today that there was no way of knowing who had fired the shot, or whether or not someone had entered or left the property at any point in the lead up or immediate aftermath of the incident.

Reading from a narrative conclusion, she said: "Based on the evidence before us, we can say that Mr Daniels was shot with his own gun and his own ammunition.

"We cannot say whether or not he inflicted the wound on himself for any reason, or if someone - be it an acquaintance or stranger- was present or shot Mr Daniels.

"Another possibility is accidental discharge but once again I am left unable to confirm this on the evidence presented.

"Mr Daniels was clearly very popular and has been described by many as the life of the party, and very much suited to his work as a pub landlord.

"To the family, may I offer my most sincere condolences following this long and trying time while the inquest was suspended while the criminal investigation took place.

"I am disappointed that we cannot find the answer in this inquest, but I hope that now we have managed to conclude, it may help in some way."

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