Man killed himself after end of relationship

From the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, first published Thursday 9th Mar 2006.

VINTAGE car enthusiast Leslie Butt took his own life after suffering relationship problems, poisoning himself with fumes in the front seat of one of his vehicles, an inquest heard.

Mr Butt, 45, of Upper Ley, Box, was found in the passenger seat of his Austin 10 in his garage on September 11 last year, dead from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The inquest, held at Devizes magistrates' court on Friday, March 3, heard how a vacuum pipe was found attached to the exhaust and placed through a window, which had then been sealed.

Mr Butt was found by his brother-in-law, Roy Blake.

A suicide note had been left on a table inside Mr Butt's home.

A statement from Mr Butt's mother, Jean, of Upper Ley, Box, told how her son had been involved in a long relationship with a woman called Teresa Rumming.

The two had been living together, but Miss Rumming had moved out in July last year, although they were said to have remained on good terms.

The inquest heard how Mr Butt had been shopping with his mother in Bath the day before he was found dead.

He had been upset after meeting a woman called Julie Fawcus the previous week through a partnership advert in the Western Daily Press.

Although the two had been out, Mr Butt was disappointed he had not been able to get in touch with her much afterwards.

His mother had become worried for her son when she walked past his home on Sunday, September 11, and saw the curtains closed.

She later called her daughter and son-in-law, Mr Blake, who offered to go round and check.

Reading from a statement made by Mr Blake, coroner David Masters said: "Your wife received a call from her mother expressing concern about Leslie's welfare and it was as a result you offered to go and check.

"You saw lights were on inside the house and some of the curtains were closed.

"You went into the garage and the light was on. When you looked into the car through the front passenger door, you saw Les. The doors to the car were all closed."

Mr Blake said: "I did try his pulse, but he was just cold. There was an overwhelming smell of fumes."

Mr Blake called the police and PC Peter Fennell, of Corsham Police, attended.

He said the house smelt very strongly of exhaust fumes when he entered.

"The car had a plastic vacuum cleaner pipe connected to the exhaust and put through the rear nearside window," said PC Fennell.

A note explaining what Mr Butt planned to do was then found in the house.

Mr Masters recorded a verdict that Mr Butt had taken his own life.

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