The heartbroken family of a father-of-one who killed himself on the “spur of the moment” say he could “fill the room with his personality”.

Gareth Berrow, 37, of Godinton Road, Ashford, was found hanged in the stairwell of his home on February 6, an inquest into his death at the Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone heard on Tuesday.

His body was found after a row with his partner, Rachel Patton, over a shopping trip she went on with a male friend, the hearing was told.

Miss Patton - who met Mr Berrow in March 2011 and described him as happy and charming - said he became jealous when she joined Kent Police.

The pair had moved from Wales to Ashford in July 2017 for Miss Patton to start her new job.

“He became really unhappy and was getting jealous of me working with other males,” she said.

“I went to Bluewater for the day with my friend James, came home to try to get some sleep and Gareth started bickering with me about it.”

The pair were due to go for dinner at Miss Patton’s sister’s but Mr Berrow, who worked for Bekro Engineering, did not want to go.

He sent Miss Patton a text at 6.30pm saying he had resigned from his job and told his brother, Craig, that he would be moving back to Wales the following day.

But just hours later at about 8.50pm, Mr Berrow, who had alcohol in his system more than four times the drink-drive limit, was found hanged.

Following the inquest, his mother, Diane, said Mr Berrow, who had a 19-year-old daughter, was loved by everyone.

She said: “It was an absolute shock when it happened.

"They called him Tigger at work as he was always trying to be upbeat and would always try to help others.

"Gareth could fill a room with his huge personality - I think he just had a meltdown moment.”

Assistant coroner Alan Blunsdon recorded a conclusion of suicide.

He said: “This was a purely spontaneous and instant decision by Gareth.

"It was not thought through but, nevertheless, he intended to take his own life.

"It was a decision made probably on the spur of the moment.”

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