Jeremy Kyle Show death: Morphine packets found near TV guest

A Jeremy Kyle guest was found dead after "growing concerned about the repercussions of the show", an inquest has heard.

Steven Dymond, 63, was discovered at his home in Portsmouth about a week after taking a lie-detector test on the ITV daytime programme.

A hearing at Portsmouth Coroner's Court was told empty morphine packets were found next to his body.

The programme was permanently axed after Mr Dymond's death.

A policeman told the inquest Mr Dymond had split from his fiancée before the recording, which he attended in a bid to repair the couple's relationship.

Det Sgt Marcus Mills said construction worker Mr Dymond was renting a room at the time of his death.

He told the owners he had been in a relationship, Det Sgt Mills said, and had been kicked out of his home amid claims he had cheated.

"Steven had also mentioned they were going to go on the Jeremy Kyle show for a lie detector test to get everything sorted." he said.

After the recording, Mr Dymond told his landlady "things didn't go well on the show", Det Sgt Mills said.

"He became concerned about the repercussions of the show and the rumours that had started as a result," he said.

Days later the concerned landlady found Mr Dymond's body on his bed - nearby were empty packets of morphine and sleeping tablets, and letters to his son and estranged girlfriend.

Det Sgt Mills said there were no signs of foul play and the death was a suspected suicide.

Results of a post-mortem examination are still awaited.

Lie detectors were a regular fixture on the programme, which often featured disputes between partners and family members.

Mr Kyle has said he is "utterly devastated by the recent events".

MPs have launched an inquiry into reality TV and watchdog Ofcom has said it will look at the use of lie-detector tests on TV shows.

Following the death of Mr Dymond, Ofcom asked ITV to give it information within five working days.

The inquest was adjourned to a later date.