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Leeds drowned man ‘con victim’
A man with mental health problems who drowned in mysterious circumstances had been repeatedly fleeced by a conman.
Trevor Whittaker, who suffered from pyschosis, was moved to a nursing home amid allegations he had lost hundreds of pounds to a fraudster, an inquest in Leeds heard.
About six months later the 45-year-old, from Horsforth, was found dead in the River Aire.
Deputy Coroner Melanie Williamson said she could not rule out the possibility Mr Whittaker – who had a “phobia” of water – had been pushed.
“The last moments of Mr Whittaker’s life are, frankly, a mystery,” she said.
The inquest heard Mr Whittaker was living alone at Victoria Walk in Horsforth when, in December 2010, concerns were raised that he was being defrauded.
Det Con Karen Glover said: “A suspect was getting Trevor to take out loans and also taking him to cashpoints to get cash.”
As a result, he was moved into Greystones Nursing Home in Bradford, where he was happy and settled.
On May 7 Mr Whittaker asked for a taxi because he wanted to go to the pub.
But, after being dropped off at Rodley roundabout on the ring road, he walked to Horsforth. His body was spotted in the river near Pollard Bridge by a resident in the early afternoon.
Forensic pathologist Philip Lumb told the deputy coroner Mr Whittaker, who had an alcohol problem, had cirrhosis of the liver, which may have made him unsteady on his feet.
There was also a possibility he could have had a seizure.
Miss Williamson recorded an open verdict.
West Yorkshire Police told the YEP that a 37-year-old man from Bradford had been arrested on suspicion of fraud and was on bail.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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