Clifftop death plunge: Man faced allegations
AN accountant committed suicide by driving his car off Hunstanton cliffs just days after he was arrested in relation to "serious allegations", an inquest heard yesterday.
Michael Hastings (42) plunged to his death on October 8 after his car left the road at Cliff Parade and crashed through a fence before landing on the beach.
Post mortem results showed he suffered multiple head and spine injuries in the crash.
At yesterday's hearing DC Michael Proctor, based at Swaffham Police Station, confirmed Mr Hastings, of 1 Brent Avenue, Snettisham, had been arrested on October 4 in connection with "serious allegations."
He was not charged, but had been bailed to return to Lynn Police Station on November 6.
Witness Richard Southerland told the inquest at Lynn County Court that he saw Mr Hastings on the morning of his death as he drove past the bowling green on Cliff Parade.
Mr Southerland said he saw him sitting in a parked car with his head leaning against the driver's window and had the impression he looked depressed.
As he passed he saw a vehicle driving across the green towards the cliffs in his rear view mirror.
Mr Southerland said he could not be sure it was the same car and thought it may have been a council vehicle collecting rubbish.
It was only when he heard the following day how a car had gone over the cliffs that he contacted the police.
PC David Cole joined colleagues in Hunstanton at around 9am and said a Mitsubishi Carisma had been driven from the cliffs and had crashed onto the beach. He said the roof had collapsed and a body was in the vehicle.
Reports at the time also revealed a dog was found dead in the car.
PC Cole was later called to an address on Seagate Road, Hunstanton, where he collected two letters which had been written by Mr Hastings.
Greater Norfolk Coroner William Armstrong asked if the letters indicated whether Mr Hastings intended to take his own life and PC Cole replied "yes."
Mr Armstrong said the "serious allegations" did not relate to a family member or his work as an accountant.
He added: "There is no doubt from the evidence this was a deliberate act, there is no evidence of a third party and this was a decision he had clearly made as a consequence of being arrested."
Mr Armstrong recorded a verdict of suicide.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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