30-year-old dad killed himself in girlfriend’s yard

A DAD tragically killed himself in his girlfriend’s back yard after a night out. Matthew Clarke was found dead by his partner after a night of drinking in Staffordshire.

Matthew’s partner told the inquest: “We had been in a relationship since January 2020. It had been quite a volatile relationship. We didn’t officially live together but he would stay at my address. In January 2022 we were going through another difficult patch.

“On February 5 I had gone out drinking in Leek with Matthew and my friend. The last place we went in was 3D Leek.

“As we were about to leave I was approached by a man I had never seen before. I said I had a boyfriend. Matthew asked what he had said. He wasn’t happy with this.

“Matthew approached him and asked what he had said. Matthew became annoyed and starting shouting at him and me. I didn’t want another argument in a public place in front of my friends. “I asked my friend to stay with me. I wanted a bit of support.

“I picked up a rucksack with his personal belongings and left it by the back door. I hoped he would get his stuff and leave. He would usually go and sit in his car and cool off.”

He arrived at the Grove

Street address at around 4am and was heard banging on the door. At around 9.20am, Matthew’s partner and her friend saw him lying on the patio.

She said: “I said ‘He’s dead.’ I turned my phone on and called 999. I had five missed calls off him and two texts asking for his keys. During the time we’d been in a relationship I wasn’t aware of any mental health issues.”

Assistant coroner Daniel Howe concluded Matthew’s death was a result of suicide.