A BARRISTER found hanging at his converted farmhouse home had financial worries, an inquest was told.

The wife of Warren Grier got up to discover her husband’s body at their home in Waldridge Lane, Chester-le-Street, on Thursday August 2.

Vivienne Grier contacted police and alerted other residents living near the property.

A doctor, among the first to arrive at the house, carried out an initial examination and confirmed there was no apparent third party involvement or anything of a suspicious nature.

Mr Grier, a 46-year-old father-of-two, was a practising criminal barrister on the North-East court circuit, having previously worked as a clerk at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court.

The inquest heard that he watched television with his wife on the evening of August 1, before retiring to bed, as usual.

Detective Sergeant Joanne Long told the hearing, at the Coroner’s Court, in Crook, that Mr Grier got up during the night and that his wife found him at about 6am, shortly after his death.

Det Sgt Long said: “We’re satisfied there was no third party involvement or suspicious circumstances.

“He was under financial pressure relating to a business venture.”

Det Sgt Long added that no note was left or any explanation given on any mobile phones and computers used by Mr Grier.

A post-mortem confirmed he died from asphyxiation, with no trace of drugs or alcohol in his system.

Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle said the only conclusion he could reach, based on the evidence, was that Mr Grier took his own life.

He added: “I’ve been sitting here for 25 years and have never found a nice way of saying that.

“But, that is the verdict I must record.”

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