Navy vet who fell for big cash cons killed himself
Monday, December 21, 2009, 16:02
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A FORMER Royal Navy sailor killed himself after being conned out of huge sums of money.
Kenneth Brian Davies had made arrangements for his funeral and even left instructions on how to use some of his possessions before taking his life.
He and his wife Brenda were described at an inquest at Swansea's Civic Centre as the "ideal couple" who travelled the world together.
But the 61-year-old left her and planned to move to Africa with a woman called Teresa. After giving Teresa large sums of cash, however, she decided to end the relationship and Mr Davies was left out of pocket.
It was a similar story when he met a Muslim woman called Sophia, who was several years his junior. Mr Davies gave her substantial sums of money, which she claimed would persuade her mother to allow her to marry a non-Muslim. But he was left "shattered and depressed" when Sophia's mother put a stop to the union.
Police Constable Samantha Stone told the inquest that Mr Davies met his wife Brenda while in his late 20s.
On their first meeting Brenda thought he was a kind, caring man and "instinctively knew he would love her and take the greatest care of her". The couple were together a year when they married. But the marriage broke down three years before Mr Davies' death.
The inquest heard Mr Davies made extensive preparations before his death, obtaining quotes from funeral directors, packing up his personal belonging and even leaving behind instructions on how to use his car radio and gas meter.
His step-daughter Julia found him dead at his home address on April 27 this year, alongside a suicide note, which was produced at the inquest.
Dr Hywel Thomas, consultant pathologist at Morriston and Singleton hospitals, found Mr Davies had died of aspiration pneumonia. It happened after he took high levels of paracetemol and the anti-depressant mirtazapine. Coroner Phillip Rogers said he was satisfied Mr Davies intended to take his own life and recorded a verdict of suicide. emma.j.jones@swwmedia.co.uk