A "happy and social" father took his life after the breakdown of his relationship, which had been strained by lockdown restrictions, an inquest heard.

Anthony Munns, of Suffolk Road, Gravesend, was found by police in an alleyway near his partner's home on Saturday, May 23, after texting her to inform her of his intentions.

An inquest into his death took place at County Hall in Maidstone last Thursday and his cause of death was given as asphyxiation by hanging.

It heard how the electrician's relationship with his partner had started to break down due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Assistant coroner Alan Blunsdon heard how on the night before he was found dead, Mr Munns contacted her a number of times while she was with a friend.

After stopping at Tesco for cigarettes and wine on her way back, she arrived home at 10.30pm to find Mr Munns coming out of her back garden with an empty bottle of wine behind him.

She told him to leave but he continued to return and leave for five minutes at a time.

"I offer my deepest sympathy to the family for this shocking and unexpected death..."

The court heard how later in the night Mr Munns, who had a 19-year-old son, had allegedly taken his ex-partner's phone before bringing it back, at which point she told him "how dare you take my phone" and told him to leave.

She went upstairs to bed but received a text from the 43-year-old at around 3.30am which said: "I've ****** up, I'm going to end it. You'll find me... by your car."

She called 999 at 4am after trying to call him on his phone to no avail.

Police arrived shortly after the call was made and Mr Munns was found in the alleyway on a grass verge behind her house.

Officers attempted to save his life using CPR but paramedics confirmed he had died at 4.56am.

During the hearing, which was attended virtually by Anthony's parents Stephen and Dawn Munns, his father said his son was "the happiest I've ever seen him" while in the relationship.

He added how Mr Munns was a "social drinker" and would regularly attend the Foresters Arms, Parrock Street, Gravesend , where he was a part of the darts and pool team.

"He was a happy person and very social," he added.

Concluding a ruling of suicide, Mr Blunsdon said: "I offer my deepest sympathy to the family for this shocking and unexpected death, which had no history to suggest he would resort to suicide."

For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.

If you want to talk to someone confidentially, click here .

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend

For more information on how we can report on inquests, click here .