A man whose body was found at the foot of a Worthing multi-storey car park probably killed himself, an inquest heard.

Richard Emery, 37, was found at Teville Gate shortly after 9pm on March 28.

An inquest heard he had fallen into a cycle of drinking heavily and taking painkillers after his job as an IT consultant in London became too stressful.

He had moved in with his foster sister in Bridge Road, Worthing, and seemed to be getting better after seeking medical help. He worked as a store supervisor at the Co-op in High Street, Shoreham.

His father Jeremy, from Shoreham, told a Worthing inquest that two weeks before his death Mr Emery had seemed more optimistic about his future.

But the hearing heard that on March 28 Mr Emery suffered a panic attack at work.

Deputy store manager Martin Baigent said he had been called back into work at 8pm when Mr Emery disappeared.

He said: "When I got down there he said he had been wandering around and drinking. He said he had wanted to end it.

"I thought he had calmed down. I told him to go home and speak to his doctor and he said, 'Yes I'll do that'."

The inquest heard that just over an hour later Mr Emery's body was found at the foot of the Teville Gate car park. His belongings were found on the third floor.

A pathologist said his death was caused by head and chest injuries.

Recording an open verdict, West Sussex coroner Roger Stone said: "I think it's likely that he may have jumped with a view to killing himself but I don't feel sure."