‘Hanging body of missing man mistaken for film prop’

THE body of a missing man was left in the back of a lorry used in a horror film after he was mistaken for a prop, an inquest has heard.

Ian Roberts, 35, was found hanging in the vehicle in a compound but a witness did not report his death as he believed the body was a “dummy”.

Merseyside police issued a plea for help in locating Mr Roberts in October 2022, who had last been seen in Warrington, Cheshire.

However, emergency services were called to School Brow in the town in December last year after reports of a man’s body that had been found.

Cheshire coroner’s court heard that the lorry had previously been used in a film set for a horror movie. A witness had attended the compound, which was locked and secured with barbed wire, to see if the lorry was still drivable.

When he got there, he found the front window of the lorry had been smashed in, the curtain inside had also been cut and the engine would not start. He then looked through the curtain and he saw what he thought was a dummy that had been used in the film, but it was actually Mr Roberts’ body.

The court heard that the owner of the lorry then drove to London to try to get the engine to start, which is when he discovered the body. The police were called and Mr Roberts was pronounced dead on Dec 2.

Sarah Murphy, the assistant coroner, read a statement from the GP who said he had been seen the man on several occasions for anxiety and depression.

He was on prescribed treatment for his mental health and was put in contact with a crisis team after expressing suicidal thoughts on one occasion.

Ms Murphy also read a statement from Det Ch Insp Maggie Cassidy who was involved in the case.

She said that a note was found in the lorry from Mr Roberts in which he showed an intention of ending his life, and that it appeared he had been there for a “prolonged time”.

Det Ch Insp Cassidy said that there were no suspicious circumstances.

Ms Murphy concluded that Mr Roberts took his own life.