A MECHANIC suffocated himself with a plastic bag around the anniversary of his mother’s death, an inquest heard.
Jonathan Spencer, 47, was found by his sister, slumped on the floor at his garage on Astwith Close, Holmewood on January 19.
He was taken to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from plastic bag suffocation.
The inquest heard that on the day of his death, Mr Spencer had been out for a meal with a friend, Robert Peppitt and had drunk three pints of John Smiths bitter.
Mr Peppit, said: “I could tell he was a little down. His demeanour was different, it was as if I was talking to him and he wasn’t listening. He said it was the time of year that got him down because it was the same time of year that his mum died.”
His sister, Stella Shouk, said that her brother lived with their mother at Shaw Street, Holmewood until her death from cancer in 2008, when he remained in the house alone.
Karen Barnett, Mr Spencer’s friend and colleague added: “I know he loved his mum and found it hard when she was not around. He was the sort of person who would do anything for anyone. I knew he was lonely but he did have his sister and her children. I had no indication he would take his own life.”
Summarising emails that Mr Spencer had written, but not sent, on the day before his death, deputy coroner, Nigel Anderson, said: “He said noone really needed him, and another said he seemed to think he had ruined a friendship and wanted to say goodbye.”
The coroner recorded a verdict that Jonathan Spencer took his own life.