An ex-prisoner's pneumonia death could have been prevented if probation staff called for an ambulance earlier, an inquest heard.

Billy Rye had served a four-year prison sentence for a violent assault in Swanley and was under a curfew while living at Fleming House in Maidstone in May 2017.

The 28-year-old was found in bed by staff at the probation hostel in Tonbridge Road and did not respond to attempts to wake him which included cold water being flicked at him.

Staff assumed Mr Rye was just in a deep sleep but a coroner concluded on Friday, during a hearing at Archbishops Palace, that he could have been saved if an ambulance was called in the morning.

Mr Rye's partner and mother both said he looked well the day before his death on May 21, 2017, but an infection of pneumonia took hold overnight.

Staff first checked on him during the 7.30am rounds before further checks at around 9.45am. It wasn't until Patricia Devall, Mr Rye's mother, asked staff to check on him again at around 1pm that they found him not breathing.

Coroner Allison Summers was told there was no attempt to call for an ambulance until around 1pm.

Recording a narrative conclusion she said: "Given the lack of response, staff should have at least contemplated something was wrong.

"There seems to have been no appreciation that people can become unwell in bed as they do outside of it.

"If action had been taken at 9.48am it is possible Billy Rye would have survived."

"The lack of appropriate training may have played some part..." - coroner Allison Summers

If Mr Rye had received appropriate treatment he would have had a 40-50% chance of survival.

The inquest also revealed staff at the probation hostel had not been given first aid training but there was no neglect on the part of staff.

Pieces of burnt foil were found in Mr Rye's room and Mrs Summers concluded that the fact staff had not entertained the reason he was not waking up due to possible intoxication was "troubling".

Toxicology reports found traces of codeine, morphine and THC in his system.

Mrs Summers added: "It is a matter of common sense that there may be something wrong and medical advice should be sought.

"To assume he was just sleeping is in my view wholly misjudged.

"The lack of appropriate training may have played some part."