A coroner has ruled there was insufficient evidence to explain exactly how a man fell 90ft to his death.

Dale Simmons was found dead at the bottom of a cliff at the Travis Perkins site near Chalk Pit Hill, Chatham, on Thursday, April 14, last year.

An inquest into the 42-year-old’s death heard how he had been out with his girlfriend the night before when he saw four young men who yelled: “Grab him.”

The pair ran off, splitting up in the process, and Mr Simmons’ partner rang police the following morning to report him missing when she hadn’t heard from him.

Officers visited the Chalk Pit Hill area and conducted door-to-door inquiries, including properties which back onto the edge of the cliff.

One officer looked at the back fences of a property, which Mr Simmons was apparently seen jumping over, and noticed one which dropped off was directly above Travis Perkins.

He visited the builders’ merchants, off Jenkins’ Dale, and found Mr Simmons’ body.

Coroner Catherine Wood explained the Gillingham resident died as a result of a head injury, as well as other injuries which were consistent with a fall from height.

A toxicology report revealed Mr Simmons had cocaine in his system which would have had some influence on him at the time of his death. A GP report confirmed he had a history of drug taking.

Detective Constable James Greenidge explained to the court how four people were charged with manslaughter, but the case was later dismissed by the judge.

Lawyers for the defendants accepted they chased Mr Simmons but say they stopped shortly after and did not see him hopping fences or falling to his death.

Concluding the inquest, coroner Catherine Wood said: “There is not really sufficient evidence to conclude one way or another to say whether it was an accident, fall, drugs-related fall or unlawful killing.”

As a result, Ms Wood gave a conclusion of an open verdict.

Following his death, homeless charity Gillingham Street Angels chief executive, who knew Mr Simmons, called him a "bubbly and lively" man.

He added: "It's very sad for him and his family. He was local and well-known in the area and to us.

"He was a nice fella – a lovely and bubbly type of guy. He was a sound bloke and nobody had a bad word to say about him. He was always lovely and friendly."