A MISSING time gap between when a young man left a nightclub and when he was found dying in the road, has persuaded a coroner to record an open verdict into his death.

The last 38 minutes of the Carl Betmead's life could not be accounted for despite appeals for witnesses.

Coroner Roger Sykes said this “crucial gap” meant he and his family were left with unanswered questions.

The inquest heard that Mr Betmead, 26, of Cricketers Close, Kemsley, near Sittingbourne, had been drinking in pubs all day around Sheerness on August 5 last year. He eventually ended up in Layzells nightclub next to the Abbey Hotel in Broadway, Minster, near Sheerness.

Some 38 minutes after he left the club – just after 3am on August 6 – he was found lying in the road in nearby Marine Parade.

He had been out celebrating the birth of his new baby and pathologist Dr David Rouse said he had drunk at least seven pints.

He had also taken one or two ecstasy tablets which would have a stimulative or hallucinogenic effect.

Dr Rouse said Mr Betmead also suffered multiple crushing injuries consistent with being run over.

Mr Betmead’s friend Jody Jackson told the inquest he had left her in Layzells, saying he was going fishing.

The next time she saw him he was lying in the road. She tried to give first aid and stressed he still had a pulse but then it stopped.

Nicola O’Connell was driving from Sheerness towards Minster when she came across Mr Betmead’s body. She said: “It looked as though he was asleep. I wanted to get him out of the road in case somebody hit him.

“I was about to turn around in the car park of the White Horse pub when a white van came round the corner. A number of other vehicles were behind him.”

The van was being driven by Christopher Mobbs, 23, who ran over Mr Betmead before driving away. He was jailed in February for four months after admitting driving with excess alcohol in his blood and failing to stop after an accident.

He said: “I don’t remember seeing anything in the road but obviously there was.”

Mr Betmead's fiancee, Rachel Webster, of Cricketers Close, Kemsley, has welcomed the verdict.

She said: “The only person who knows what happened that night is Carl. I knew it wasn’t an accidental death. It is the right verdict and is now another chapter closed for me.”

Carl had three children, seven-year-old Sian, four-year-old Tyler-James and Charlie, who was just a month old when his father was killed. He had also just proposed to Rachel, also 26.

Mr Betmead’s brother, Stefan, said: “If there are any witnesses who saw him from the time he left the club to when he was found dead, then please come forward.”

CARL BETMEAD'S FIANCEE RACHEL SPEAKS ABOUT LIFE WITHOUT HIM IN THIS THURSDAY'S SHEERNESS TIMES GUARDIAN