A convicted rapist took his own life in a hotel room while facing a long spell behind bars, an inquest has found.
Lyndon Brand, from Broadstairs, was on bail and awaiting sentence after being found guilty in November of twice raping a teenage girl two decades ago.
But before he could be jailed for his crimes, he was found unresponsive on February 7 by a housekeeper in room 204 of the Canterbury Bell in Margate.
The 60-year-old was given CPR by staff and paramedics, but could not be revived.
On Tuesday, Coroner Sarah Clarke concluded his death was a suicide during an inquest at Oakwood House in Maidstone.
No family members were present at the hearing, but they had given consent for it to go ahead in their absence.
Reading a statement from Detective Sergeant Fern, who went to the hotel, Coroner Clarke said: “He was situated on the floor of the hotel room.
“She established ID with visual comparison from an image on police systems.
“One witness, Mrs Gisply, was a housekeeper.
“At around 1pm, she was completing cleaning when she noticed there was still a do not disturb sign on the door.
“She knocked several times, then went in using her master key card, and saw Mr Brand sitting on the bed upright.
“He appeared to be sleeping, and she called down to colleagues.
“When it was clear he was not waking up, she called an ambulance.”
Two “notes of intent” were found in the room, along with several empty packets of medication.
One addressed to his wife said he was “sorry for what he had done”, and criticised the police, the court system and the government.
Corner Clarke said Brand was also suffering from cancer at the time of his death and had a recent history of mental health issues.
A toxicology report revealed he overdosed on a combination of prescription drugs.
She added: “A report from his GP outlines that there were some interactions with Mr Brown in the years before, indicating he had been suffering with some mental health difficulties throughout that time.”
Brand, of Hopeville Avenue, had appeared on trial charged with two counts of rape following a police investigation in 2021 and 2022.
The offences took place more than 20 years ago.
Giving evidence, his victim told how she had felt unable to disclose what had happened to her for many years.
As she gave evidence, Brand – who denied the charges – could be seen shaking his head in the dock.
A jury found him guilty on November 21.
He was due to be sentenced on February 13, but took his own life six days earlier.
Concluding the inquest, Coroner Clarke formally recorded Brand’s death as suicide.
