A father-of-four found dead near a town centre supermarket hanged himself after a long battle with mental illness, drug and alcohol use.

An inquest into the death of Yusuf Bisgin, known as Joe, heard he was last seen three days before his body was discovered on wasteland near a footpath by the River Len in Maidstone.

He had texted colleagues saying he would not be in work but not to worry and messaged his partner, Natalie Watson, apologising for his behaviour.

Police also found a message etched into his mother’s kitchen table saying “sorry, maybe in another life.”

He was reported missing the day before he was found by a homeless cyclist underneath Wat Tyler Way, near Sainsbury’s.

The 30-year-old roofer, from Maidstone, had started taking cannabis and cocaine in 2008.

The court heard substance abuse impacted his mental health and in 2014 he was diagnosed with severe personality disorder and psychosis.

The month before his death he had cut his throat and tied a jumper around his neck but had only sustained minor injuries.

Mr Bisgin, who grew up in Tovil, had spoken to a drugs charity and met psychiatrists.

In the weeks leading up to his death he had requested a change of medication as his current dosage was making him feel like a zombie.

Further appointments with the mental health team were booked but he killed himself before he could attend.

An empty vodka bottle was found next to his body and a toxicology report found he was more than three times the drink-drive limit and had cocaine in his system.

Coroner Patricia Harding said earlier incidents were cries for help and while Mr Bisgin had not expressed his intention to end his life, the remote location he was found in and the slim chance of anyone finding him in time led her to record a verdict of suicide.

Extending her sympathies to his family, Mrs Harding said: “I have seen newspaper reports since Joe’s death and it is clear he was a very popular man.”

If you would like confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.