A man accused of possessing indecent images of children died after taking his own life, an inquest has heard. Craig Chappell, 49, died on September 6, 2022, one day after his family had reported him missing.
Mr Chappell, of Clos Bronwydd, Ebbw Vale, was charged last year with three counts of making indecent images of children between December 2020 and September 2021 including eight category A images, seven category B images, and five category C images.
A hearing at Newport Crown Court on October 4 last year heard Mr Chappell's family had reported him missing on September 5 after finding a note written by him. He had previously appeared at Newport Magistrates' Court on September 1, 2022, in connection with the above alleged offences.
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An inquest at Gwent Coroners' Court in Newport on Tuesday, June 20, heard Mr Chappell, who was originally from South Africa, was found dead in his car in Duffryn Road in Ebbw Vale on September 6. It heard Mr Chappell suffered from mental health problems and had consumed an excess of medication prior to his death. The inquest gave Mr Chappell's medical cause of death as 1a. obstructive asphyxia and 2. drug toxicity and recorded a conclusion of suicide.
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