Court hears young Kentish Town labourer hanged himself on Hampstead Heath

A “level-headed” labourer hanged himself on Hampstead Heath after admitting his gambling habit was “out of control”, an inquest has heard.

Patrick Stenson, 25, of Queen’s Crescent, Kentish Town, took his own life at the Mixed Bathing Pond on the morning of January 5, a coroner ruled. His body was found by swimmer Richard Brober, who alerted the police, the court heard.

St Pancras Coroner’s Court heard on Tuesday that Mr Stenson had been feeling “down” in the weeks leading up to his death, something which was out of character for the otherwise “happy” man. Two days after Christmas, he asked his mother for a loan after confiding that he had been gambling.

His mother, Carmel Stenson, said: “It had got out of control. He asked how much could I give him and I gave him £5,600, and took his card away from him.”

The inquest heard that Mr Stenson had no history of mental illness, and had never expressed suicidal thoughts.

His sister, Marie Stenson, told the court: “I didn’t think he would be the type of person to do this. He always seemed so level-headed. It never crossed my mind.”