A tattoo artist found dead in a flat died of a cocaine induced heart condition, an inquest has heard.

Terry Cox, of Canterbury, was staying with a friend in an apartment above the Prince Albert Pub in Wrotham Road when he was discovered not breathing and unresponsive in November last year.

Paramedics and police attended the scene but the 33-year-old was pronounced dead and seemed to have been deceased for some time.

According to his friend, the pair had spent the previous evening together and all seemed well until he was found the following morning.

The court was told he had also used cocaine in the run-up to his death.

The father-of-two, who suffered from anxiety and used the Class A stimulant had complained of chest pains the week before and had previously visited doctors about ischaemic heart disease which was said to have been brought on by his drug use.

Coroner Roger Hatch recorded a drug related death and said: "I express my sympathy."

Mr Cox was born and raised in Kent but moved to Nottingham around five years ago. Before moving north he had owned a tattoo parlour.

"I will always love him..." Maureen Cox

Speaking after the inquest, his mother Maureen tried to hold back tears as she remembered her son.

"Terry was a lovely man. he was a great son, a fantastic artist - very talented. He had many friends and I loved him a lot," she said.

"He was a genuinely nice guy, there were about 300 people who came out to his funeral.

"I will always love him."

Others took to the internet to express their grief. One commenter wrote: "He was a ray of light on a dark day. Was taken far too soon," while another said: "Sad to see him go so young. Will miss his cheeky smile."

A fundraising page has been set up to raise money for his two daughters.