A man who went missing from a psychiatric centre hanged himself, an inquest heard.

Steven Kay, 39, of Brabner Gardens, Ramsden Heath, was found hanging from a tree in Broomfield on September 14, coroner's officer Derek Sewell told an inquest at Chelmsford.

He had gone missing from the Linden Centre at Broomfield Hospital 12 days earlier.

The inquest heard that Mr Kay had been suffering from mental illness for several years. Dr Walter Onyango, consultant psychiatrist, said Mr Kay had been taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford on September 1 after taking an overdose of aspirin.

Mr Onyango added that Mr Kay was found to be missing at one of his 15-minute checks.

The staff carried out a search and later Mr Kay was found by police.

Verdict: Mr Kay killed himself while suffering from a mental illness.

Published Thursday, December 12, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Echo