The 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 played Benny Green and was the first child seen on the children’s TV programme. 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 this circumstance there is no option available to me other than to reach an open conclusion."
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.”
