The family of a man found hanged in his home have paid tribute to a “lovely son and wonderful brother”.

Dean Hearne, 42, was found by his mother at the family home on Wigmore Road, Carshalton on January 8.

An inquest heard the father of three, who worked as a scaffolder, had been feeling down in the months before his death, because he had not seen his children.

The night before he died, he was taken for a drink by his nephew Mark Hayes, in an attempt to cheer him up. Whilst out, Dean told him: “You will miss me when I’m gone,” but the court heard Mr Hayes thought nothing of the comment.

When he returned home at around 2.15am, Dean asked his mum to have another drink with him, but when she refused, he told her he loved her and she went back to bed.

She discovered his body the following morning, when she went downstairs.

His sister Karen Acres, said: “Dean was a popular and well known person, who was loved dearly. He was always the life and soul of the party and he loved going fishing.

“Dean loved his children dearly and was a lovely son, wonderful brother and a really caring uncle. He will be greatly missed and loved always, never ever forgotten by his family and friends.”

Recording an open verdict, Coroner Roy Palmer said: “I do not have the evidence to say it was an accident, but I do not have enough evidence to persuade me that he meant to die.”

A poem written as a tribute to Dean said:

“Dean told me our love would never die, but your soul fled to the sky. My heart broken in two. Having the heartache and pain embraced in my heart. Missing your smile from your face and the tender touch of your lips, your arms tightly around my hips. These memories now stored in my head, now and forever more. With all those dreams we once shared, I bid you farwell Dean as someday we shall meet again My lover, my soul mate, my best friend, Mr ? xxx”