A 46-year-old man fatally stabbed himself after his mother died and he was left to care for his mentally ill brother, an inquest has heard.

Paul Green was discovered down the side passageway of the family home in Oakfield Lane, Dartford, near North Kent College in May.

He was found by his older brother, who also resided at the address, and was arrested at first on suspicion of murder before he was later released and ruled out of police enquiries.

A hearing was held at the Shepway Centre in Maidstone today where the cause of death was given as self-inflicted stab wounds to the leg, chest and neck.

It was heard how the former courier, who was unemployed at the time of his death, had endured a two-decade long battle with depression.

Paul was previously diagnosed with generalised anxiety (GAD), paranoia and agoraphobia, among other behavioural disorders, dating back to 2005, around the time of his late father's own suicide.

He continued to struggle over a number of years and had a history of "non engagement" with public mental health services – although he did take anti-depressants for a short time and consulted a private psychiatrist.

Assistant coroner Alan Blunsdon took background evidence from a mental health nurse and Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Moss, from Kent Police, who headed up the investigation into Paul's death.

DCI Moss described to the court how Paul had self harmed and on atleast one occasion had threatened to emergency services to "shoot himself".

It was understood his "suicidal ideations" were "exacerbated on the death of his mother in 2017" after an illness.

Paul had been left to care for his older brother, who also had a history of mental illness, but it was understood at his last point of contact with a mental health nurse – prior to Covid-19 – his depression "had subsided and they were both sleeping better".

During the full inquest it was heard how police had originally launched an homicide investigation and officers, keen to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry, arrested Paul's brother on suspicion of murder.

DCI Moss told the coroner police had suspected suicide but explored other possibilities including a homicide by a known person "while remaining open minded".

However, upon a thorough examination of evidence – corroborated with forensics and door-to-door inquiries – DCI Moss said they were "more than satisfied there was no third party involvement".

The deceased's injuries were deemed "unusual" but it was accepted the multiple stab wounds had in fact been inflicted by Paul himself.

This was evidenced by the positioning of physical blood stains on the floor and the location in which the deceased and the knife were found, the investigating officer explained.

Assistant coroner Alan Blunsdon thanked the chief inspector on what he called one of the most "thorough" and "comprehensive" reports he had read during his tenure on the coroner's bench.

Recording a conclusion of suicide by self-inflicted stab wounds, he said: "I find on the balance of probabilities it was the intention of Paul Malcolm Robert Green to take his own life and he did so by the means described above on May 14 when he was found.

"I express my deepest sympathies to all the family and friends of Paul Green on his sad death."

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

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

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

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford