Gardener, 82, walked into sea over fears of dangerous drive charge

AN ELDERLY gardener took his own life by walking into the sea and drowning after fearing he would be convicted of driving offences, an inquest heard.

David Staddon, 82, of Hythe, Kent, was found on a beach in the town on September 20 last year, the coroner’s court in Maidstone was told.

His step-daughter Sharon Roper, who lived with him, said in a statement that her father had received a letter two weeks before his death from police saying he was being considered for a charge of dangerous driving.

She said: ‘He asked me not to tell anyone because he was ashamed about being convicted for driving offences.’ Ms Roper added that he told her about his funeral but she linked this to the anniversary of his wife Marlene’s death in August 2015.

‘I did not have any indication he wanted to end his life,’ she said. When she woke on the morning of this death, she found three letters on his bed addressed to her and his two sons. Writing to his daughter, he said: ‘My dear Shaz, please, please forgive me for the actions I have taken.’

His vehicle was found near the beach with a tide timetable inside.

Mr Staddon’s body was found on the beach by Veolia cleaner Philip Smith.

He called 999 and performed CPR on Mr Staddon (pictured), who worked as a voluntary gardener at Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway.

Recording a verdict of suicide, assistant coroner Katrina Hepburn said: ‘This letter did cause him considerable stress, such that he went to solicitors. It is likely to be something that triggered his intention to go into the water.’