A major police investigation was launched after a man’s body was discovered by a family friend – who then went to the pub without raising the alarm, an inquest heard.

Detective Sergeant Billy Scott said he found the actions of Richard Charity “despicable”. Mr Charity said he had gone into a panic at the time and was now thoroughly ashamed of the way he reacted.

Telford & Wrekin coroner Michael Gwynne recorded a verdict of death from natural causes on 33-year-old Simon Flynn, of Briggs Way, Wrockwardine Wood.

Mr Gwynne said police had eventually ruled out foul play after tracking down Mr Charity and establishing Mr Flynn had died from an epileptic fit.

Mr Flynn had suffered from epilepsy since childhood, making it impossible for him to work or drive.

The inquest heard his mother Shirley Smyth, of Priestland Terrace, Trench, Telford, asked her former partner Mr Charity, of Weybridge, Woodside, Telford, to check up on her son on March 14 as she had not heard from him for several days.

Mr Charity said after calling at a pub, he knocked on Mr Flynn’s door, looked through a window and saw him lying slumped with a quilt over him. He let himself in with a key.

Mr Charity said: “I touched him. He was stone cold. I sat on the arm of a chair for five minutes. I didn’t know what to do. I just froze.”

Mr Charity said he had been “shaking like a leaf” and had gone to a pub to steady his nerves before calling for an ambulance from Mr Flynn’s home.

Questioned by the coroner, he said he accepted with hindsight he should have called for help straight away.

“I will never forgive myself ,” he added.

Mr Scott said paramedics had recorded Mr Flynn’s death at 5.23pm, about three hours after Mr Charity had found the body, and an investigation was launched

Mr Scott said he was now satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances but said: “I was astounded the alarm had not been raised when he was first found. I think it was totally wrong and despicable.”

By Ruth Taylor