A KENDAL man took his own life without leaving a suicide note behind, an inquest has heard.

Kelvin Lee was pronounced dead by paramedics on September 28 2020 after he was found lifeless by a police officer in the kitchen of his New Inn Yard home in Kendal.

An inquest led by assistant coroner Craig Smith into Mr Lee’s death held at Cockermouth Coroner’s Court on Tuesday ruled it to be suicide by hanging.

Mr Lee suffered from mental health problems and had attempted suicide at least twice before, the court heard.

PC Stewart Aisling attended the 55-year-old’s property on September 28 after Mr Lee’s partner was experiencing a ‘mental health episode’.

Caroline McLoughlin was found outside on the street of her and Mr Lee’s property and was banging on the door of another property.

Ms McLoughlin was then taken to her home, before Mr Lee’s body was found by PC Aisling.

A statement by PC Aisling said that Ms McLoughlin ‘appeared vacant and was not aware of the situation around her,’ before she was taken to hospital.

Just a day before, on September 27, police officers had attended Mr Lee’s home as Ms McLoughlin was suffering from another mental health episode.

A statement read out by PC Rob Dixon explained: “I assisted my colleague who had been attending an incident where a female was walking around the street in just her underwear.

“I recognised the female as Caroline McLoughlin.

“She appeared to be having a mental health episode.”

After escorting Ms McLoughlin to her home, Mr Lee told PC Dixon that he and his partner had been isolating due to the Covid-19 pandemic and she had run out of medication.

PC Dixon said: “I asked Kelvin if he knew that Caroline had left the flat.

“Kelvin kept apologising and said it was his fault as he had not been looking after her. Kelvin was a little distressed and that due to the Covid epidemic he and Caroline had not left the flat in six months.

“He appeared embarrassed by the state of the flat and kept apologising for it.”