A man found dead on Llandudno beach may have returned to the area as a “safe haven” after hitting the headlines for kicking a wreath at Manchester city centre cenotaph.

Simon Colley was targeted by people after his photograph appeared in the press after the incident in March, 2017.

And though the 41-year-old, who avoided being jailed, was portrayed as a heartless alcoholic at the time, another picture of him emerged at an inquest in Ruthin.

Mr Colley was a brilliant mathematician who turned to drink because he was bi-polar.

In a statement read at the hearing his brother Ian Colley said he was born in Hong Kong but the family settled in Llandudno in 1985 and Simon attended Colwyn Bay's Rydal Penrhos School.

Despite mental health issues even then he went studied at Southampton University and Manchester, gaining a first-class honours degree in maths.

After some time in London the talented tennis player moved to Manchester, buying a flat, but took various illegal substances and alcohol and spent time in prison.

Ian Colley explained after appearing in the Manchester Evening News his brother felt unsafe in Manchester saying: "He wanted to sell his flat and may have been thinking of moving back to Llandudno to be safe.

“He was dealt some horrible cards but didn’t learn from his mistakes."

North Wales East and Central coroner John Gittins, read statements from Greater Manchester Mental Health Services revealing Mr Colley, of Greengate, Salford, when discharged from hospital on April 26 expressed a willingness to work with the home treatment team, wanted to move from Salford and stop using alcohol and illicit substances.

On the morning of April 29 Llandudno RNLI crew member Andrew Jones spotted a body on the beach near the boathouse. Mr Colley was certified dead. He was wearing boxer shorts and a T-shirt but his trainers and other clothes were in a neat pile near the road.

A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death as drowning but there was no alcohol or illicit drugs in his body.

Recording a conclusion of misadventure, Mr Gittins said although Mr Colley had had mental health issues for some time he had not indicated he intended to harm himself.

“It is possible he may have considered the area a safe haven,” he said.

He did not appear to have committed an impulsive act in entering the sea because he had been meticulous in leaving his clothes, and he may have gone for a swim, the coroner added.