A MAN took his own life after fears that he would lose his home despite having £20,000 worth of savings, an inquest heard.

Jonathan Richards was found at his home in Vicarage Road, Marchwood, on July 25, last year, after concerns were raised for his welfare.

An inquest into his death at Winchester Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Richards had been diagnosed with the schizoaffective disorder around the time of an incident where he was damaging cars with a soldering iron and assaulted a member of the public.

In the months before his death the former music teacher became increasingly worried that he would lose his home due to money fears after he was banned from playing the organ at his church due to “inappropriate behaviour”.

He also mourned the loss of his two dogs, and at one point messaged his family: “I feel in a dark place at the moment and can’t get motivated.

“Everything is in a mess I don’t know how to sort things out. I am really worried I will become homeless when my savings run out.”

The inquest heard that Mr Richards told medical practitioners that he was having suicidal thoughts, but his care coordinator Anthony Pethick said: “[I had known] Jonathan to talk about suicide and the methods that could be employed. To my knowledge Jonathan made no effort to harm himself.”

However, on July 23 Mr Richards missed an appointment with the mental health team, despite being contacted he did not respond and on July 25 emergency services were called to his home.

A post-mortem determined that he died as a result of hanging and area coroner Jason Pegg concluded that Mr Richards death was a suicide.

In tribute, his mother Mary Dickson said “music really was his life”, adding that her son played a number of instruments.