The troubled father of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne moved to Kent to "start a better life" according to his brother.

But Michael Payne's efforts proved in vain as he spiralled into alcohol abuse, which is thought to have led to his death.

This week, his brother Alan described him as "kind-hearted" but raised fears that a documentary about his daughter may have pushed him over the edge.

Michael was discovered in an armchair at his home in Brishing Lane, Maidstone on Monday, October 27 by police, who smashed in the door after his other brother Keith raised the alarm.

The 45-year-old had struggled with alcohol since eight-year-old Sarah’s death 14 years ago.

Alan said the last contact the family had with Michael was at the end of September, but it was not unusual for him to go "off radar" for weeks at a time.

He had called his mother, Cynthia Wright, to let her know Channel 5 was broadcasting a documentary on Sarah’s murder as part of its Britain's Worst Crimes series.

Mrs Wright, 74, warned her son not to watch it. She was too distraught to comment this week, but said he had a good heart.

Alan, of Lancashire Road, said: “Mike was a kind-hearted and very helpful man. He would always assist his neighbours and used to drive a minibus for disabled and elderly people.”

The 47-year-old added: “The first I knew of Mike’s death was when police called me at 11pm last Monday. They acted quickly after Keith had told them of his concerns.

"He came to the area to be close to family and start a better life but it didn't work..." - Alan Payne

“He often used to retreat into himself and wouldn’t contact us for weeks; this time he went for almost a month without calling. We just thought we’d get a message from him out of the blue.

“I think when he saw the programme it brought everything back to him and he had to go through it all again. I think it drove him to drink more which led to his death.”

Michael had moved to Park Wood in 2011 to be near family.

He had split from wife of 18 years, Sara, 45, three years after Sarah was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting.

Her killer is now serving a 40-year term after being sentenced in 2001.

Alan said: “He came to the area to be close to family and start a better life but it didn’t work.

"He blamed himself for Sarah’s death and some things are impossible to get over. He struggled with alcohol and towards the end he was drinking increasing amounts.”

Soon after moving to the town Michael was sentenced to 16 months in prison after drunkenly striking brother Stephen on the back of his head and then slashing his arm with a shard of broken glass for what were described at Maidstone Crown Court as “completely unfathomable” reasons.

The two men had drunk three litres of cider and a litre of vodka each on the night of the attack at Stephen’s flat.

Alan said: “Michael was off the drink when he came out of prison and got the driving job. He told my mum it was getting stressful and he lost the job a year later in January after he started drinking again.”

Stephen Elsden, chief executive of Compaid, where Michael worked as a driver, said: “All of us were shocked and saddened to hear of Michael’s tragic death.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

An inquest will open in six to eight weeks after a post-mortem and toxicology test are carried out.