Telford graffiti artist drowned, inquest hears
A graffiti artist found dead in a stream on Christmas Eve had drowned, an inquest heard.
Patrick Mahon was fondly known as the Pink Panther after the Shropshire Star unveiled him as the creator of numerous pieces of street art across Telford.
An inquest into how 42-year-old Mr Mahon, formerly of Talbot Road in Trench, came to be found with his head submerged in a brook in Horton Lane, on December 24, 2013 began at Wellington yesterday.
But John Ellery, coroner for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, adjourned the hearing until August 27 to call for evidence from a custody officer who had released Mr Mahon from Malinsgate Police Station the night before he was found dead, after being charged with harassment.
A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death was drowning and there were no injuries consistent with being pushed or falling into the brook. The inquest heard Mr Mahon was a highly intelligent man with an IQ of 165 whose life spiralled into chaos due to mental health problems.
He was known to the police for non-payment of council tax, public order offences, breach of the peace, assaults and criminal damage, and began sleeping rough when he was evicted from his home.
But Mr Mahon was also known for his colourful street art for which he first gained notoriety in the late 1990s by painting bright pink faces at Trench Lock and became known as the Pink Panther.
His mother Pauline Mahon, 64, of Church Street, Oakengates, told the inquest: "His art is something he will be remembered for."
Mrs Mahon said after her son was made redundant from Epson he spent his time devising ways to brighten up his home town and make people smile.
She added: "When he was unveiled in the local press as being the artist he was truly happy."
