A PENSIONER whose body was found in a fishing pool a mile away from his Sedgley home, committed suicide, an inquest was told.

William Jewkes, a steward at Upper Gornal Methodist Church, was last seen on Tuesday, November 22.

His son, Matthew, who lived with Mr Jewkes at his Tipton Road home, called the police when he arrived home from work and discovered his 75-year-old father was not there and had left items behind that he "never left the house without".

Police launched an appeal to find the widower but the search came to a halt on Friday, November 25 when his body was discovered in the pool on Parkes Hall Road at 12.28pm.

Monday's inquest, at the Black Country Coroners Court in Oldbury, was told that Mr Jewkes, who was a keen rambler, had been wearing his walking clothes when he was pulled from the water and had a rucksack on, which contained a black hat, a pair of spectacles and tiles, which would have weighed him down in the water.

The retired electrical engineer, who had been a Type 2 diabetic and was awaiting surgery on his knee, had shown no signs of depression or low mood, according to his sons.

However the inquest was told that his internet search history showed he had researched poisons in July this year.

Senior coroner, Zafar Siddique, said the medical cause of death had been drowning but concluded that Mr Jewkes had taken his own life.

Samaritans

You don’t have to be suicidal to call Samaritans. Volunteers are available to speak to 24/7 and can be called free from any phone on 116 123.

This number is free to call and will not appear on your phone bill.

If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can also email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.