AN inquest is set to open after a 52-year-old Egremont man died in the same week he was due to appear in court.

Benet Christopher Wace, a construction manager at Sellafield Ltd, was found dead at a property on Daleview Gardens on June 27.

Cumbria Police confirmed they were contacted with concerns for Mr Wace's welfare and attended the property, where they discovered he had died.

Mr Wace was due to appear at West Cumbria Courthouse last Friday for three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing indecent images of children and one count of distributing an indecent image of a child.

A police spokesperson said: "The death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed."

An inquest is set to be opened at Cockermouth's coroner's court on July 28 and adjourned until November 28.

A Sellafield Ltd spokesman said: "We would like to pass on our condolences to Mr Wace’s family, friends and colleagues at this sad time."

The CPS has confirmed the charges brought against Mr Wace have been withdrawn.