A traumatised father killed himself out of guilt over failing to stop his daughter being attacked by burglars, an inquest heard. Gareth Reeve, 47, was a 'happy-go-lucky' truck driver who changed completely after witnessing the brutal assault on his daughter, Jessica, Winchester Coroner's Court was told. Mr Reeve was found hanged in woods near Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, on February 24 after a police helicopter search. The inquest heard how Mr Reeve, from Havant, Hampshire, suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing the serious attack in September.
Life-long friend Malcolm Boniface told police: 'He felt it was his fault and he couldn't do anything about it, he just froze.' Mr Reeve, who underwent counselling sessions, was reported missing on February 22 by his mother Norma after he failed to come home. Two days later he was found hanging in the woods and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
His brother, Andrew, told the inquest: 'The attack completely changed him.
'He'd put blankets over the windows and he kept them there all the time. It was like blackout curtains.'
Recording a verdict of suicide, coroner Grahame Short said: 'This was from all accounts a serious and horrific attack.
'I feel he could not live with his guilt - and that he did understand that he wasn't able to help his daughter - but also his own fears about the long-term effects that that was going to have.
'I think it was entirely wrong for him to have those thoughts, and that's why he needed help.' (Dailymail)
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