The decomposed body of a former Grange Hill actor had to be identified from photographs on his wall, an inquest has heard.
Terry Sue-Patt was found lying face-down in his home in Walthamstow, north-east London in May this year. The 50-year-old was the first child seen on the children’s TV programme, where he played the character of Benny Green. He had a number of acting roles after Grange Hill and became an artist later in life.
A concerned neighbour contacted police after failing to contact him for weeks, who forced entry into his home and found his body in the bedroom, the Walthamstow Guardian reports.
Sue-Patt’s father Alston said he had struggled with an alcohol addiction after the death of his brother Michael in a car crash in 1989.
Waltham Forest Coroners’ Court heard a post mortem was unable to determine the cause of death “due to the extent of post mortem changes”.
In a statement read by Coroner Miss Nadia Persaud, his family said Sue-Patt “became gripped by a depression he never fully recovered from”.
“Terry’s successful and eventful life was tragically cut short. He was our cherished son, brother, uncle and friend and will be sadly missed.”
