POLICE are investigating claims a popular Weymouth musician was assaulted before he fell to his death from a multi-storey car park in Belgium.

Dale Pringle-Martin, who worked as an entertainer for P&O Ferries, suffered fatal injuries when he fell, an inquest heard.

The 28-year-old professional guitarist was alone at the time of the fall but there is “a suggestion of an assault prior to his fall”, assistant Dorset Coroner Brendan Allen was told.

An inquest into the death of Mr Pringle-Martin, who lived in Franklin Road, was opened in Bournemouth yesterday.

The court heard the death is being investigated by Belgian Police, who are studying CCTV footage. 

No further details were given about the investigation but more evidence will be heard at a full inquest next month.

Mr Pringle-Martin died on June 27 last year but the court heard inquests into deaths overseas are often subject to delays.

Tributes poured in to “extraordinary” musician and “special” young man Dale following his death last summer. 

His father, Mick Martin, who attended the opening of the inquest, led the tributes to his son.

He told the Dorset Echo: “He was the funniest guy in the world. He was very irreverent with his humour. 

“He was a little bit of a cheeky chappy. I don’t think I know anybody that didn’t like him. 

“Everywhere he’s gone there’s been a load of people who have gravitated toward him. All of his friends have been funny, they all have the same sort of humour.” 

Dale was born in London but moved to Weymouth when he was four-years-old and was well-known in the town.

He attended Budmouth College before studying music at Thames Valley University.

His passion for music started in Weymouth, when he was in the band The Grind, which he started with his brother Jay and school friends Aaron, Jenny and Lee, mentored by his father. 

His musical talent took him all over the world. He worked on North Sea Ferries before winning musical contracts in the Caribbean, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Holland and Belgium.

Shortly before his death he had formed a musical partnership with his girlfriend, Lixie, and they had been performing together on the Pride of York ferry to Belgium.