Coroner: Warwick man who went missing ‘took his own life’

The body of Brian Reading, of Cape Road, was found by a Network Rail employee hanging from a tree at a isolated culvert near Warwick Parkway Station on September 25.

He had been reported missing by his concerned family on July 22, the day after his 43rd birthday.

Police had carried out widespread searches for Mr Reading, a type-2 diabetic, who was classed as a ‘high-risk missing person’.

Recording the verdict that Mr Reading took his own life today (Friday) coroner Sean McGovern said: “If I record a verdict that he took his own life I have to be satisfied that this was his intention.

“The cause of death by hanging is clear and from the note he left for his family it is clear that he took his own life.

“I offer my condolences to his family.”

Mr Reading’s partner had previously been concerned with his excessive drinking and drug taking and in the months leading up to his disappearance and death his mood had deteriorated, according to his close friend Matthew Goode.

Mr Reading met Mr Goode at Warwick station on Friday July 20 and spent the night and much of the next day at Mr Goode’s flat in St John’s, drinking beer and watching horse racing, before telling him at around 4pm he was going home to sleep.

Mr Goode expected a text message from his friend of 28 years, but it was the last time he saw him.