Father hanged himself at work

3:37pm Wednesday 21st May 2008

A HARTFORD father who committed suicide was found dead by his son, an inquest has heard.

Anthony Newman, 46, was found hanging from a girder at Think Print Ltd in Winnington where he worked as a warehouse manager, after sending texts to his wife and children saying, I'm sorry, really sorry. Take care'.

The hearing at Cheshire Coroners Court in Warrington on Friday heard how son Richard Pendlebury and Think Print colleague Paul Barnett found Mr Newman hanging by a purple cargo strap from the ceiling girder.

It is believed he used the fork of a fork lift truck to reach the ceiling before using a rope tied to the truck's controls to make it drive from under him. Mr Pendlebury and Mr Barnett cut him down and tried to rescuscitate him but it was too late.

The former Army man left his home in Stones Manor Lane in Hartford after a minor argument with wife Stephanie about arriving home from work late on January 30 this year.

Mrs Newman, who had been married to Anthony for almost 12 years, said: "I went upstairs to get a bath and he said, I keep doing this to you Steph, I keep picking you up and then dropping you down', and then he was gone."

His son Gavin Newman told the hearing his father had made several attempts and threats to take his own life in the past.

He said: "His suicidal thoughts came and went, you never knew what my dad was thinking."

Assistant deputy coroner for Cheshire Michael Wallbank recorded a verdict of suicide.