Gambling addiction drove loving father to take his own life after spending 111,000 – Mirror Online

A loving dad and husband killed himself after he could not cope with his enormous gambling debts, an inquest has heard.

Jowan Evans, 32, took how own life in March this year after facing "significant financial problems" and racking up debts from online gambling websites.

An inquest into his death revealed over the past 11 years the father-of-three had spent more than 111,000 in online bookmakers and betting shops including more than 53,000 in the six months before his death, with losses amounting to 19,000, reports Cornwall Live .

Mr Evans wrote about his gambling addiction in a note discovered by police investigators after his death.

He said he had kept his addiction hidden from everyone - including his wife Lucie.

It read: "This monster living inside me has ruined my life."

Lucie described her husband as "perfect" and shared a powerful message urging anybody suffering at the hands of similar demons to seek help.

The inquest heard Mr Evans was last seen on March 17 after he dropped off his older son from a previous relationship with his mum.

He is understood to have then hanged himself in a wooded area some 800 metres from his car which he left on the car park.

His concerned wife Lucie raised the alarm after he did not re-appear that night.

A search operation was then launched which involved a helicopter, heat-seeking camera, sniffer dogs and members of the Cornwall Search and Rescue Team.

Mr Evans' body was discovered the following day.

Further investigation of his bank accounts revealed the extent of Mr Evans' gambling addiction with bets on the two sites ranging from a few pounds to 1,500 or 2,000.

In the months prior to his death, Mr Evans had borrowed 20,000 from his father to help him expunge other debts, particularly on his car as it was about to be repossessed, but that money was used to gamble on various sporting events.

Detective Sergeant Stephen White, who led the investigation, told the inquest at County Hall in Truro that Mr Evans' first partner had left him because he had gambled away 30,000 which had been put aside as a deposit for a house.

Assistant coroner Guy Davies said these gambling sites operated on a pay-as-you-bet basis with money coming directly out of people's bank accounts without any deposits required onto the sites themselves, making it quite easy to gamble.

Recording a suicide conclusion, Mr Davies said: "This is a case in which Jowan Evans struggled with his hidden gambling addiction which led him to take his own life.

"There had been nothing to warn his family about what went on in his mind. There was no cry for help. Police investigation revealed a note left in his van. It was clearly a suicide note. In it he mentioned how he gambled his money away again and again.

"Jowan had significant financial problems and a longstanding gambling addiction and unpaid finance as well as un-repaid loans from family members.

"For him it was an accumulating wall of debt. He took his own life as a direct result of his gambling debt and his perception to beat his gambling addiction."

If you need confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see http://www.samaritans.org for details.

For help with gambling issues visit the NHS website here or see information about the NHS's National Problem Gambling Clinic here or the Gamblers Anonymous charity can be found here .

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Gambling addiction drove loving father to take his own life after spending 111,000 - Mirror Online