An inquest into the death of former Cheadle Post and Times editor John Capper has found he is likely to have died from natural causes.

The 45-year-old was found dead at his mother’s home last month, and an inquest had to fast-tracked through the Coroner’s Court because his body was too large for a post-mortem examination to be carried out.

The inquest heard he was estimated to weigh around 40 stone and was classed as morbidly obese.

His GP, Dr James Pilpel, of New Surgery in Tean, said his patient’s obesity could have led to a number of health complaints including diabetes and heart problems, which could have caused his death.

The coroner said he suspected John had died as a result of health problems brought on by his obesity, but said that without a post mortem it was impossible to tell for sure.

He recorded a verdict of ‘unascertained cause of death’ but added: “I’m satisfied death was from natural causes.”

John had worked for former Post & Times owner Hill Brothers, joining the company in the mid-1970s as a junior reporter.

He rose through the ranks to become editor of the Cheadle Post and Times and was also responsible for editing the Uttoxeter Post and Times.

Recently he had worked as a sub-editor for Your Leek Paper.