A man wanted by police who died after falling from a second storey-window was trying to flee the authorities, an inquest heard.

Robert Goodey, 36, from Folkestone, suffered multiple injuries when the drainpipe he used as an escape route came away from the wall on March 16.

He landed just metres from onlookers on cobbles as the drainpipe broke around him, an inquest at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone heard today.

Police attended the flat above Super Pizza in Old High Street on March 16 to arrest Mr Goodey for an alleged “domestic crime” and failure to surrender to the court.

Folkestone PC Richard Porter told how he looked through the property’s letterbox to trace Mr Goodey, but only saw “the dim glow of the TV.”

Giving evidence, he told coroner Katrina Hepburn how himself, PC Hockless and PC Forward were suddenly called to another incident, and so left the property to return later.

On their return after knocking on the door it was opened ajar from behind before “slamming shut with force,” said PC Porter.

“We heard a noise before the door opened ajar - I didn’t see who opened it.”

PC Hockless identified Mr Goodey as being inside the flat, which smelled of cannabis, before officers kicked down the PVC door and carried out a search of the flat.

“I remember it being completely dark - I went into the bedroom area.

“Other PCs went into the front room and I heard the shout 'he has gone out the window',” he said.

PC Porter added officers hadn’t seen Mr Goodey physically escape, but he was seen below lying on his back with laboured breathing.

The court heard statements from five eye-witnesses who saw Mr Goodey, a carpenter of no fixed address, fall at about 10.25pm.

One claimed Mr Goodey was readying himself to land on his feet but fell head first outside the takeaway.

Witnesses said they saw a “figure” inside the flat at the window following the fall, later to be the identified as PC Porter.

Mr Goodey’s family criticised PC Porter after he explained officers’ body cameras weren’t switched on until after the incident.

Detective Inspector Loose, who took over the investigation the next morning, was asked to review the police response.

He told the court a Kent Police review has seen switching on body cameras for “door knocks” as compulsory this summer.

He added a number of drugs were found inside the flat - which belonged to a friend of Mr Goodey’s – and if he was arrested he would likely be remanded custody.

Speaking to the family, Ms Hepburn said: “It seems to be the case that he wanted to go out the window to reach the ground below.”

She recorded the death as misadventure - a form of unnatural death - a category that also includes accident, suicide, and homicide.

After the fall Mr Goodey was taken to hospital by ambulance and then airlifted to Kings College Hospital in London but died hours later.

A cordon remained in place between Rendezvous Street and The Old High Street for much of the next day while an investigation was launched.