Kentish Express Ashford & District
Officer death inquest opens
An inquest has opened into the death of a policeman at his home.
Christopher Hughes,
49, was found dead in an upstairs room by his wife Amanda, a hearing was told on Friday.
The couple had been watching a film on the evening of Tuesday, January 26, at their home in Halden Close, High Halden.
Mr Hughes went upstairs and did not return after about 35 minutes so Mrs Hughes went to look for him.
Emergency services were called and members of Kent Fire and Rescue Service administered CPR until paramedics arrived.
A post-mortem examination confirmed cause of death as suspension.
The inquest heard that Mr Hughes was born in November 1971 in Liverpool.
Last week, colleagues had paid tribute to Mr Hughes, a sergeant who had been with Kent Police for 24 years.
He had been in the force’s east division, covering areas including Ashford.
Kent Police Federation announced the tragedy on Facebook on January 27, sparking scores of tributes.
Coroner Katrina Hepburn, at County Hall in Maidstone, adjourned the inquest until May 4 at the Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone.
A planning application has been submitted, signalling the possible arrival of a 5G mast in a residential neighbourhood.
The telecommunication structure - which would be 20 metres tall - is earmarked for a site next to the Post Office on Newtown Green.
The mast is set to feature six antennae, and will be flanked by three single-storey structures for power provision.
Being proposed by Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL), a document written in support of the plan reads: “As part of [our] continued network improvement programme, there is a specific requirement for a new installation at this location to provide 5G services, ensuring that this residential area of Newtown and the wider area of Ashford International, Ashford Designer Outlet, the railway line and wider area maintains access to the latest technologies.”
Comments can be made on the proposal until February 26 on ABC's website.