Police found Mr Grant, 54, unresponsive on Friday, March 20 and he was later pronounced dead (Image: Supplied)

Gary Grant, 54, was found unresponsive in Sparrow's Nest Gardens at 10.13pm on Friday, March 20 and was later pronounced dead at the scene.

A 28-year-old woman was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and after being taken to Great Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre for questioning, Amber Stebbings was later charged with murder.

Mr Grant's death was described as "heartbreaking" in touching 'RIP Sailor' tributes online.

A Home Office post-mortem examination was carried out on Saturday, March 21, but the cause of Mr Grant's death was pending further investigation.

As a full report from pathologists was awaited, it was not known how Mr Grant had died as a court was told there were three or four immediate causes of death.

An inquest into Mr Grant's death is now due to be opened at Suffolk Coroners' Court in Ipswich on Thursday, April 2 by Darren Stewart, the area coroner for Suffolk.

Stebbings appeared at Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court last Monday, March 23 charged with the alleged murder of Mr Grant, before appearing via a video link at Ipswich Crown Court last Tuesday morning.

Amber Stebbings, 28, has been charged with the murder of Gary Grant. (Image: Facebook)

Stebbings, whose address was given as Spashett Road in Lowestoft, spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth, with her solicitors stating that she has mental health issues, asking that diminished responsibility be considered.

Spashett Road in Lowestoft. Inset: Amber Stebbings Images: Mick Howes/Supplied (Image: Mick Howes)

A pre-trial plea hearing date has been set for May 20 with a trial date scheduled to take place over 10-days within a three-week window starting November 16 at Ipswich Crown Court.

Stebbings was remanded in custody.

Every entrance to Sparrow Nest Gardens was cordoned off by police (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Suffolk Police said that the incident at Sparrow's Nest Gardens was being treated as an "isolated" one and that the pair are understood to have known each other.

Mr Grant was the father of Ellie Grant, who was found dead two-and-a-half miles away in Fen Park, Kirkley, after being reported missing on March 13, 2017.

It is believed she took her own life.

Suffolk Coroner's Court, Ipswich. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

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