‘Victim of building scam’ driven to take own life

An “intelligent” and “proud” retired computer analyst was driven to suicide by “con men” builders who he hired to repoint his chimney, an inquest heard.

Colin Juffs, 65, believed he was the victim of a scam after builders demanded almost £300,000 for ever increasing amounts of work, an inquest in north London was told.

His sister, Paula, found his body at his house in north Finchley on July 27 last year with a suicide note and a file of paperwork relating to the building work that drove him over the edge of despair, the hearing was told.

The note said: “I really could not see the job getting finished in my lifetime and therefore I have taken the selfish way out.”