Tributes paid to Owen Lavelle at Bournemouth inquest

Owen Lavelle was found hanged in woodland after a dog walker spotted his bike leaning against a bush.

Mr Lavelle, 37, was found on January 5 last year but an inquest into his death has only just been held.

Hearings have been delayed due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

At the Bournemouth inquest, his mum, Linda, said: "He was a kind, caring and compassionate human being. He was extremely kind and always thinking of others.

"We now have to endue the heartache of losing my beautiful son - it has destroyed us."

His sister, Annabella, said he had "a real get-up-and-go attitude" and added: "He was such a bright, funny, intelligent man with so much to offer this world."

And close friend Peter Jaxon described him as "a laugh-a-minute guy who could light up any room."

Assistant Dorset Coroner Brendan Allen heard Mr Lavelle went missing from his mum's home in Baverstock Road, Poole on December 28 2019.

He was going through a divorce and had been suffering from depression as well as taking drugs and drinking heavily. The inquest heard he had been in a "downward spiral".

Mr Lavelle's body was discovered in woodland between Talbot Avenue and Glenferness Avenue in Bournemouth.

A dog walker had seen his bike on January 4 and become concerned.

She had seen an appeal for information about Mr Lavelle in the Daily Echo and she then saw a picture of his bike on the Dorset Police website.

The inquest was told that the cause of Mr Lavelle's death was asphyxia due to hanging. He had a blood alcohol level equivalent to two-and-a-half times the legal driving limit.

Concluding that Mr Lavelle died from suicide, Mr Allen said: "Owen Lavelle has been described as caring, compassionate, kind-hearted and charismatic.

"He went missing from his mother's address and there were no confirmed sightings between the time he went missing and the time he was found deceased."

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