Impact of his crime was too much for rapist (From Daily Echo)

Rapist hanged himself after completing jail term, inquest hears

12:10pm Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Southampton

A CONVICTED rapist hanged himself because he couldn’t come to terms with his crime, an inquest heard.

Steven Weekes had completed a prison sentence and was being monitored by a number of different agencies, the court heard.

He had pleaded guilty to rape at Southampton Crown Court in January 2006 and was sentenced to six years in prison and placed indefinitely on the sex offenders’ register.

Police were called on September 5 last year after the 42-year-old failed to show up for his appointment with his probation officer.

The probation officer had gone to the block of flats in Shirley, Southampton, but failed to get hold of him and could hear Mr Weekes’s mobile phone ringing inside.

DS Robert Spall told the court how he went to the first-floor rented bedsit in Shirley Road, Shirley, where he discovered Weekes hanged in the shower room.

No suicide note was left but there was a letter dated June 2011 which indicated his frame of mind.

He had significant mental health problems and suffered from psychotic episodes in the last part of his life.

Coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict that he took his own life.