An animal lover found dead at his home was killed by an 8ft pet python, an inquest has heard.

Dan Brandon, 31, died of asphyxiation at his home in Church Crookham, Hampshire, on August 25 last year.

His mother Babs described Tiny, an African rock python, as her son's "baby" and that Mr Brandon had never felt threatened by the reptile despite knowing its strength.

She said her son kept 10 snakes and 12 tarantulas in his room at the family home.

Coroner Andrew Bradley recorded a verdict of misadventure and said: "The most likely scenario is that Tiny was engaged with Dan - I have no doubt about that.

"She was coiling around him, at which point I have no idea. There was a point at which either she takes hold of him unexpectedly or trips him up or some other mechanism."

Mr Bradley said the snake then hid, probably "because of the shock of him falling or because of his reaction".

He added Mr Brandon was asphyxiated "as a result of contact with Tiny", and that he "cannot see any other reason" for the death.