Williams inquest: 'He was unhappy in London' says sister

Spy Gareth Williams didn't enjoy his life in London and complained of "friction" at MI6 before he was found dead in a sports holdall, his family said today.

Cycling enthusiast Mr Williams was due to return to the West Country a week after he was found dead because he hated the "rat race" and the "flash car competitions", sister Ceri Subbe said.

She told the inquest into his death she did not believe Mr Williams would let a potential killer in his upmarket London flat, adding: "I cannot emphasise enough his conscientiousness".

MI6 were "dragging their feet" in approving his request in April 2010 to return to GCHQ's Gloucestershire HQ, she added.

Her statement added: "He disliked office culture, post-work drinks, flash car competitions and the rat race. He even spoke of friction in the office."

Explaining her comment, Ms Subbe added: "The job was not quite what he expected. He encountered more red tape than he was comfortable with."

Ms Subbe was asked about £20,000 of women's clothes which were found in his flat after he died. She said it was "not particularly" surprising, adding that they were "possibly as a gift".

In a statement read out earlier, Ms Subbe said: "In terms of a big brother figure, Gareth was perfect."

She added: "It's impossible to do justice to Gareth's impressive character without meeting him."

Ms Subbe told how she "had a truly magical time" during her last meeting with Mr Williams for "dainty finger sandwiches" at the Ritz hotel.

"As a family we were incredibly close," her statement said.

The naked and decomposing body of Mr Williams, 31, was found in the bath of his home in Pimlico, west London, on August 23 2010.