Grandad ‘didn’t receive support for his issues’
A grandfather found dead in woodland near a supermarket was not given the support he needed for his mental health issues, according to his daughter.
The body of 43-year-old Sammy Draper was discovered near the Sainsbury’s car park in Romney Place in Maidstone shortly after noon on Monday. He is believed to have taken his own life. Mr Draper - father of Abbie, Billy, Tina, Tilly, Josephine and Sammy, and grandfather of Grace, Charlie and Obie - had fallen on hard times in recent years and found himself in and out of prison.
Upon release, he struggled to find a job or a home and ended up pitching up a tent around the town, though his children supported him and fed him where they could.
Daughter Abbie, 25, said: “He was just the most wonderful dad who always bubbly and always had a smile on his face. “He’d help absolutely anyone he could - if he only had 50p on him but somebody else needed it, he’d give it to them and leave himself with nothing. “He just lost his way and felt there was no other way out.” Miss Draper, who is eight months pregnant with what would have been his fourth grandchild, said she spoke to her father daily and tried to get him help for his demons but believes there wasn’t enough support for him.
“People wonder why people keep re-offending when they come out of prison, but it can be really difficult,” she said. “When you struggle to get a job, you’re homeless and you’ve got nowhere to go, maybe sometimes you think ‘at least in prison I’d have a bed to sleep in’.”
Dozens took to social media to pay tribute, including sister Caroline Wallace described him as someone who “wanted to be everyone’s friend”. A bouquet of flowers and a can of Gordon’s gin was also left near the scene.
If you need help on an emotional issue you can call the Samaritans free, at any time, on 116 123.