The boyfriend of a mother-of-three found dead in her Herne Bay flat was arrested on suspicion of her murder a week after her body was discovered.

An inquest this week heard how Terry Magold, 41, was quizzed by detectives over the death of Karen Pullen in Station Road in May last year.

But the hearing was told no evidence was found to suggest he had any involvement in the 38-year-old’s death.

Mr Magold, who was living with Miss Pullen and her two-year-old daughter at the time, was arrested by police a week after his partner’s body was found in the early hours of Saturday, May 7.

Det Sgt Alistair Warton told the inquest in Margate: “The initial assessment was that the death was non-suspicious.

“We got involved a week later when a man reported a conversation with Terry Magold. We did not find any evidence, none whatsoever, that Miss Pullen had come to harm from another person.”

"I do not think I have known mum – she has always been a bit of a zombie to me" - Karen Pullen's daughter, Lauren

A postmortem examination revealed Miss Pullen had died of mixed drug intoxication after substances including cocaine and heroin were found in her system.

Her daughter Lauren told the inquest in a written statement how she lived with her grandparents due to her mother’s drug addiction.

She said: “I did not realise mum was still taking drugs.

“I do not think I have known mum – she has always been a bit of a zombie to me.

“She would often let me down when we had arranged to meet and I did not always have a lot of contact with her.”

The hearing was told how Miss Pullen had been released from drug and alcohol charity Turning Point two months before she died.

In a statement, the charity said Miss Pullen was proud of her achievements and had “taken responsibility for her future” when she was discharged in March.

Assistant coroner Chris Morris recorded Miss Pullen’s death as drug-related.

He said: “It is clear from the evidence that Miss Pullen had endured a long battle with street drugs and, at certain points, appeared to be overcoming the addiction for the sake of her children.

“When Miss Pullen’s body was found, there were no obviously suspicious circumstances at the scene.

“Instead there was evidence of street drugs, including a cling film wrap and injection marks, as well as drug paraphernalia around the property.

“The most likely consequence is, tragically, Miss Pullen had returned to street drug use and died as a result of mixed drug intoxication.”