TYCOON’S SON KILLED HIMSELF NEAR GEORGE CLOONEY MANSION

THE son of a millionaire handcuffed himself to a suitcase weighed down with concrete blocks and heavy chains before jumping into the River Thames alongside Hollywood star George Clooney’s mansion home, an inquest heard.

Alexander Stern was reported missing by his family, including his father Ronald Stern – a stationery tycoon who owns one of Britain’s top Ferrari collections – three days after he disappeared on January 11 last year.

The 36-year-old had taken a £120 taxi ride from London to upmarket Sonning, Berks, and was last seen in a public house near Clooney’s mansion, the coroner was told.

Police discovered a rucksack containing Mr Stern’s belongings but no sign of him or his suitcase, until his body floated to the surface 1.3 miles downstream and was seen by a canoeist on April 4.

A post mortem examination on Mr Stern’s thoroughly decomposed body concluded the cause of death “unascertained”, the coroner heard.

The police report, which was read out to the inquest, said: “The body was clothed and attached via handcuffs to a heavy suitcase that contained within it a concrete block.”

Identification documents, including his passport and European driving licence, were found in the inside pocket of Mr Stern’s coat. He was wearing a hooded top, a coat and three pairs of trousers, the top layer of which was waterproof.

Alan Blake, the assistant coroner for Berkshire, said he was satisfied that Mr Stern had intended to end his own life.