Gravesend man hangs himself after sickness benefits were cut

Victor Cuff had been drinking heavily before his death, inquest heard

An unemployed man committed suicide by hanging himself because his sickness benefits had been cut, an inquest in Gravesend heard.

Victor Cuff, 59, had been drinking heavily before he hanged himself on 22 May. His body was found in his bedroom by his neighbour Colleen Gobel, who had noted police with concerns she had not seen Mr Cuff all day.

Ms Gobel told police he was struggling with depression and had been “feeling down” after his sickness benefits were cut, the News Shopper reported.

Detective Sergeant James Greenidge, of North Kent Police was called to Mr Cuff’s property at 6.11pm. He told the inquest: “It appeared he hanged himself”.

”There was evidence he was drunk.“

A post-mortem found the alcohol levels in his blood were four times the legal limit for driving and enough to induce a coma.

A verdict of suicide was recorded by Coroner Roger Hatch.