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A fraud victim who suffered with dementia took his own life at a beauty spot after forgetting his bank reimbursed him £20k following the scam.
Hugh Saunders, known to be an ‘enthusiastic’ walker, left an ‘I’m in Rudyard Lake’ note at his North Staffordshire home which was found when a friend became concerned.
It came around 18 months after fraudsters had fleeced £20,000 from his Barclays account.
The bank later reimbursed the money but an inquest heard the retired pottery worker had ‘dementia’ and thought the issue remained.
North Staffordshire assistant coroner Duncan Ritchie told the court that Hugh didn’t respond to a friend’s phone call on August 20, 2024, who then visited his home where the note was found.
Police immediately launched an urgent search for Hugh and officers found his body two days later in Rudyard Lake, around a ten minute drive from his home in Leek.
The note at his home stated: ‘The bank has let someone fiddle with my bank account. I’m in Rudyard Lake.’
PC Ian Prendergast, from Staffordshire Police, said: ‘It appeared around £20,000 had been taken out of Mr Saunders’ bank account around 18 to 20 months before his death, but after liaising with the bank, all the money was paid out.
Hugh Saunder’s body was found in Rudyard Lake around a ten minute drive from his home in Leek (stock picture)
It came around 18 months after fraudsters had fleeced £20,000 from his Barclays account (file image of Rudyard Lake)
‘We located his car not far from the lake. We used a boat and sonar because Rudyard Lake is a vast area and it took a couple of days to find his body due to weather and Rudyard Lake is fairly big.’
The inquest heard Hugh was pronounced dead on August 22. The alarm had been raised two days earlier.
Assistant coroner Mr Ritchie delivered a suicide verdict.
He said: ‘Hugh Saunders had begun to suffer a decline in his health. He suffered from mild-cognitive issues, which his friend describes as dementia.
‘On August 20, Hugh didn’t answer the phone when his friend called him. This friend attended the address and found he wasn’t there.
‘A note was left by Hugh suggesting his bank account had been defrauded, and he could be found at Rudyard Lake, along with bank statements and a copy of his will.
‘Hugh’s car was found near Rudyard Lake and a couple of days after the search began his body was found.
‘The medical cause of death was immersion. I conclude his drowning came about when he deliberately entered Rudyard Lake.
North Staffordshire assistant coroner Duncan Ritchie told the court that Hugh didn’t respond to a friend’s phone call on August 20, 2024. Pictured: HM Coroner for Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire
‘A note he left states he intended to end his life. There is clear evidence that Hugh wanted to end his life because he mentioned so in his note. My short-form conclusion is suicide.’
Tributes have been paid to Hugh on a funeral notice page which said he will be ‘greatly missed by family and friends’.
Kevin Andrew wrote: ‘For many years Hugh was an enthusiastic and valued member of Leek Ramblers.
‘On behalf of the group he tirelessly organised a walks programme, and dedicated much of his time to devising and leading Sunday walks. Heartfelt thanks Hugh from all your fellow members past and present.’
While, Linda Gaunt added: ‘RIP a good neighbour for many years. My sympathies to all family and friends.’
