AN ACCOUNTANT committed suicide by hanging himself, an inquest heard.

Stephen Crook, 37, of Madeline Place, Chelmsford, had arranged for his landlady to visit. However, when she arrived, she found a note telling her not to go upstairs.

She phoned the police, who arrived and found Mr Crook hanging from a loft hatch.

The police also discovered a number of notes and letters at his home, including one entitled Suicide Letter.

Toxicology investigations found Mr Crook had no alcohol or drugs in his system when he died on October 10, 2009.

On Friday, coroner Eleanor McGann said: “The letters and notes make it very clear he intended to take his own life.

“He had obviously planned it for some while and did everything he possibly could to minimise the distress to everyone he left.”

Mr Crook’s mother Jennifer Hickford and sister Angela Crook were present at the hearing.

After Mrs McGann recorded a verdict of suicide, she said to the family: “I understand you were a very close family. It must be hard without him and you say you are very shocked.”

The inquest did not go into depth as to why Mr Crook had chosen to take his own life and his family were too upset to comment.