Worthing cricketer's death after argument

John Ludlam, 24, from Eriswell Road, Worthing, known as "Snoop" to his friends, was found hanging from a beam in a garage at the Shoreham home of his girlfriend of one year, Faith Suwanprathet, on July 28.

In a statement to the inquest into his death, at Worthing Magistrates' Court, Miss Suwanprathet said she and Mr Ludlam, a carpet fitter, had been travelling in Australia and south east Asia before they returned in May.

He had been "very supportive" of her when her step-father died that month, she added, but had worried about money and "day to day" stresses.

Unusual

On July 25, after staying at her Greenways Crescent home the night before, Mr Ludlam and Miss Suwanprathet went to a barbecue in the afternoon and had drinks in a Shoreham pub in the evening, where a minor argument started.

The row continued at home, where John began shouting at Miss Suwanprathet, something she described as "quite unusual".

She phoned a taxi for him and left him downstairs while she went to bed, assuming he would wait for the taxi and leave.

She later tried ringing him but he did not answer.

Not home

She then rang his flatmate, Jon Kennett, who said Mr Ludlam had not returned home.

After a further day with no contact, a friend of Mr Ludlam reported him missing to the police on Sunday, July 26.

On Monday, officers spoke to Miss Suwanprathet about the last time she had seen him and conducted a minor search of the house.

PC Teresa Beddoe said officers returned to the address the following day at around 12.15pm.

They searched the garage, forcing access by breaking a window, and found Mr Ludlam's body.

Deputy coroner Martin Milward recorded a verdict that Mr Ludlam took his own life.

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