Mystery of unsent text message

A 39-YEAR-OLD man described as happy and mischievous was found hanged from an empty stall on Tommyfield Market.

An Oldham inquest heard how Paul Devine, of Swift Road, Sholver, was discovered with a leather belt tied around his neck on September 15 last year.

The carpet fitter had been in contact with his family a week before his death but gave no reason for them to be concerned about him.

His mother’s partner, Robin Reeves, of Claremont Street, Ashton, described Mr Devine as a happy and mischievous man, who he believed would never self-harm.

Passer-by Bilalur Rahman was walking through the market with his girlfriend when he found Mr Devine at about 9pm.

The couple alerted police, who found an unsent text message to his girlfriend on Mr Devine’s mobile phone. Police said the message was “coherent and made sense”.

A post-mortem found twice the legal driving blood-alcohol limit and methadone in Mr Devine’s blood.

Coroner Simon Nelson said he was satisfied Mr Devine took his own life.