The body of a missing man that was found in a lorry was mistaken for a horror movie prop.
Ian Roberts had been reported missing back in October 2022, with Merseyside Police issuing a plea to help locate him.
He had last been seen in Warrington, Cheshire, before the 35-year-old was found hanging in the vehicle in a compound but he wasn’t reported dead because the man who found him believed the body was a “dummy”.
Cheshire Coroner’s Court heard that the lorry had been previously used in a horror film set.
Emergency services were called to School Brow, in Warrington, in December last year after reports that a man’s body had been found.
A witness had gone to the compound, which was locked and secured with barbed wire, to see if the lorry was still driveable.
When he got there, he found the front window of the lorry had been smashed in, the curtain inside had also been cut and the engine wouldn’t start.
He then looked through the curtain and he saw what he thought was a dummy that had been used in the film - but it was actually Ian's body.
The court heard how the owner of the lorry then drove to London to try and get the engine to start which is when he discovered the body.
The police were called and Ian was pronounced dead on December 2.
Assistant coroner Sarah Murphy read a statement from Ian's GP who said he had been seen on several occasions for anxiety and depression.
He was on prescribed treatment for his mental health and was put in contact with a crisis team after expressing suicidal thoughts on one occasion.
Contact was made with Ian on various occasions to check in but he said he was not expressing suicidal thoughts and was depressed.
During the hearing, Ms Murphy also read a statement from detective chief inspector Maggie Cassidy who was involved in the case.
She said how a note was found in the lorry from Ian in which he showed an intention of ending his life and that it appeared he had been there for a “prolonged time”.
DCI Cassidy said that there were no suspicious circumstances around his death and Ms Murphy concluded that Ian took his own life.
Ms Murphy said: “I express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Ian Roberts for his untimely death.”
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