A well-respected police officer found dead in a hotel room did not blow the whistle on alleged Kent Police corruption, an inquest heard.

DS Ben Turner, 37, was discovered at the Premier Inn at Medway Valley Leisure Park, in Strood. The cause of death was suspension.

The father-of-three had been asked to give a statement as part of an investigation into the alleged manipulation of crime statistics.

At the hearing, Mr Turner's brother Daniel asked the officer who looked into the death if his brother was a whistleblower in the case.

DS Patrick Holmes confirmed Mr Turner was not under investigation or a witness.

"He was spoken to as part of the investigation, but many, many officers were spoken to," he said.

Mr Turner was based in Tonbridge and had served in the force for 13 years.

The inquest at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone yesterday heard that giving a statement had made him "anxious".

Mr Turner's marriage of nine years had ended in the months leading up to his death and he went to live with relatives in Hoo.

The inquest was also told Mr Turner was in debt and had been signed off work.

He had been prescribed medication to help him sleep and combat anxiety and depression. Mr Turner had taken an excess amount of these pills before he died on Friday, February 15, the inquest heard.

An open verdict was recorded because deputy coroner Andrew Campbell-Tiech could not be sure Mr Turner intended to take his own life.

No note was found and the inquest was told the drugs Mr Turner had taken, in combination with the alcohol he drank before his death, could have affected his judgement.