AN inquest has been opened into the death of a man who suffered a serious head injury at a Poole holiday park.

Kenneth Dickie, 64, died in hospital a week after being found with the injury at the Rockley Park resort in the early hours of Sunday May 8.

Dorset coroner Sheriff Payne heard that Mr Dickie, who lived at Apple Close in Poole, was staying with family in a caravan at the resort and that he had been drinking at the resort’s club with his partner and her family.

In a statement to the court, senior coroner’s officer Ian Parry said there was a family dispute outside the club, which then continued outside the caravan.

He said Mr Dickie banged his head on the ground, sustaining a serious head injury.

An inquiry and appeal for witnesses was launched by Dorset Police following Mr Dickie’s death. The Bournemouth inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

Jamie Mitchell, 34, of Apple Close in Poole has denied manslaughter in connection with Mr Dickie’s death and will appear at Winchester Crown Court in January for a trial.

He pleaded guilty to common assault and intent to pervert the course of justice when he appeared before magistrates in Bournemouth.

At the same hearing, Samantha Mitchell, 57 also of Apple Close, Poole, pleaded not guilty to intent to pervert the course of justice and her trial was also set for January.

Mr Dickie suffered the head injury and was taken to Southampton General Hospital. He was treated in the hospital’s specialist neurological unit but died on Saturday May 14 when life support was withdrawn.