A much-loved dad battling with his mental health sent a final text to police before taking his own life on a rural track, an inquest heard.
Jennon Freeman, from Bacup, was described as ‘incredibly troubled’ shortly before his body was discovered on a track near Hebden Bridge Golf Club on September 16, 2024. The inquest heard that at the time of his death, the 31-year-old was on police bail with conditions which barred him from seeing his daughter, causing him considerable distress.
Details of the police investigation were not revealed during the hearing on Tuesday (December 31). In a statement, his mum, Charlotte, blamed Lancashire Police bail conditions for her son’s anguish.
She said: “The bail conditions imposed by police that prevented him from seeing his daughter was the reason he could not bear his life.”
She said her son’s marriage had broken down and he found it ‘intolerable’ that he had no contact with his daughter. Jennon’s parents said they tried to ‘check in’ with their son as he was away from his family, YorkshireLive reports.
“He said he was fine,” said Charlotte. “We knew he was terrified.”
On the final day of his life, Jennon had found it ‘extremely hard’ and he could no longer keep the pain hidden, said Charlotte. She said her son had changed his will a month before his death which she believed indicated his intentions.
The inquest heard that Jennon’s body was found by police in the early hours of the morning after he had sent an delayed emergency text to West Yorkshire Police which included details of his location and his intentions. Officers attended the scene and found his body and a suicide note near to a Ford van.
Assistant coroner Laura Fox described Jennon, from Bacup, as a much-loved man who was ‘incredibly troubled’ shortly before his death. She said: “Mr Freeman was on police bail at the time.
“His mum Charlotte told me that the last day of his life was extremely hard for him. The pain he was in could not be hidden.”
The coroner said Jennon had “felt that the only way to deal with matters and end the pain was to take his own life.”
The coroner recorded a suicide verdict, describing what Jennon had done to himself as a ‘very definite act’ that involved preparation and premeditation. She offered her condolences to Jennon’s family and friends who were in court, telling them: “I’m really so very sorry for your loss.
“Think of the good times – I am sure you have many.”
You don’t have to suffer in silence if you’re struggling with your mental health.
Here are some groups you can contact:
Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence.
Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won’t show up on your bill.
PAPYRUS: Suicide prevention charity offering professional help and support to children, young people and anyone concerned for someone struggling with life. Call HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039 967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org.
Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression. No helpline, but it offers useful resources and links to other information.
Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal. Click here to visit.
Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying. Click here.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. There is a helpline: 0800 58 58 58 or visit the website.
Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter THE COURT FILES and get all the biggest stories from Lancashire’s courts direct to your inbox