Stockton sex offender took own life to prevent him carrying out further offences, inquest told

A sex offender who took his own life left a note saying he was killing himself to stop him offending again.

Gary Richardson was found dead in his Stockton home as he faced fresh allegations linked to indecent images of children.

The 40-year-old had already spent time in prison after being jailed in 2004 for possessing thousands of indecent images.

He was found hanged in his flat in Greatham Avenue, Portrack, on September 5 by police after he failed to answer bail.

At an inquest into the death yesterday at Teesside Coroner’s Court, Hartlepool senior coroner Malcolm Donnelly read out the note left by Mr Richardson which said the reason for his actions were that it would stop him from reoffending.

Only a few days earlier, on September 2, a search warrant had been carried out at Mr Richardson’s home by Cleveland Police after intelligence was received that he had been distributing indecent images of children.

As a result, Mr Richardson was arrested and then bailed.

However, following a forensic examination of devices, they were found to contain indecent material.

Following the discovery of Mr Richardson’s body in the living room and kitchen area of his flat, a post-mortem examination was carried out.

Evidence given by a consultant pathologist from the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, revealed that as well as an amount of alcohol, an amount of paracetamol which was described as a “level of a high therapeutic dose” was also found in his body.

Detective Inspector Mark Dimelow, of Cleveland Police’s Major Crime Team said: “My professional view was that there was no-one else involved in his death.

“I think he had explored a number of options to get to his death.”

Mr Donnelly, who is currently undertaking the assistant Teesside coroner role, said: “There was attempts of self harm and the note that was left which would suggest that he had thought about it.”

In 2004, Mr Richardson admitted 17 charges of possessing more than 13,000 indecent images of children and was jailed for two years.

At the time, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox QC, said the distressing images showed “the worst possible kind of depravity.”

Mr Donnelly concluded at the inquest that Mr Richardson had killed himself.