A NORTHWICH dad-of-three hanged himself in woodland, just days after celebrating his 29th birthday, an inquest has heard.

The body of Christopher Michael Lewis, of Parkfield Road, was found on July 21 this year, close to the banks of the River Dane, in woodland just off Shakespeare Close in the Rudheath area of the town.
At a read only hearing at Warrington Coroners Court, Heath Westerman, Acting Coroner for Cheshire said how Mr Lewis was found wearing his work clothes and that no note had been found either on him or near his body.
In a statement provided to the court by Mr Lewis’ mother Andrea Yearsley, she said how her son, who worked as a car imager for a company in Winsford, had no previous incidents of self-harm to her knowledge.
She said: “I am aware he has threatened suicide in the past. There were two incidents in May and July 2019 where he attempted to commit suicide.
“He did not get admitted to hospital or attend a GP and I did not think the threats were genuine.”
Her statement went on to say how Mr Lewis had been in an on/off relationship with Katie Joynson for many years and how the pair had three children together.
She added: “He would stay on and off with his partner who had been together since around 2009. Whatever difficulties there were in the relationship, he would always come home to me.”
She last saw her son on his birthday (July 19) when he seemed in good spirits, laughing and joking with family and friends about his night out in Northwich at the Witton Chimes pub, the night before.
Mrs Yearsley’s husband saw Chris the following day when he came around to their home to pick up a parcel that had been delivered there.
He again seemed in good spirits and said that he was going to the Rudheath Social Club later that day for a pint.
In her own statement provided to the court, Ms Joynson said how she had known Mr Lewis since she was 12-years-old and that they had been in a relationship with each other on and off for around 14 years.
She said: “Chris did have a history of self-harm and making threats of suicide. In 2009 he attempted to kill himself and went into hospital thereafter. He would also make threats to jump off balconies and to hang himself.
However, like Mrs Yearsley, Ms Joynson also said she did not believe the threats to be genuine.
She added: “In the days leading up to his passing his behaviour was normal. He was showing no low mood and I had no cause for concern.”
Ms Joynson also last saw Chris on July 19 but did receive a number of text messages from him after that which caused her to become concerned so she contacted his mother.
Mr Lewis’ GP at Middlewich Road Surgery confirmed he had been previously treated for anxiety and depression but that he had not expressed any of those symptoms to him at any time this year.
Reaching a conclusion of suicide, Mr Westerman said: “I am satisfied in those circumstances that one, he took his own life, and two, that he deliberately intended to do so.
“Therefore, on the balance of probability my conclusion is one of suicide.
“I would like to offer my condolences to the remaining family and friends of Mr Lewis.”

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