A MAN found hanged in woodland near Woodford Tesco killed himself because he was devastated by the death of his mother, a coroner has said.

Peter Bradd, a 48-year-old only child whose father died when he was eight, spent his whole life living alone with his mother in their home in Grays, Essex, and was distraught when she died in October 2008 after a long illness.

Mr Bradd, described by his family as a recluse, disappeared the day after her death and was never seen again.

It was not until February 2009 that his body was discovered suspended from a tree hidden behind undergrowth in Roding Valley Park near Roding Lane South, Woodford Green.

Police initially struggled to identify Mr Bradd due to the length of time since his death.

But when officers finally matched the body using DNA analysis, they found that Mr Bradd had few possessions, no friends, no job, no bank account and no phone.

When they entered his house they found no photographs of him beyond school age and only two items with his name on it – his birth certificate and national insurance card.

“It is almost as if he didn't exist,” said coroner Dr Elizabeth Stearns.

Mr Bradd's cousin, Sandra Ray, said he had also been close to his grandparents, but they too had died some years before.

She said: “Nobody knew him really. From a very young age he wouldn't speak to anyone, only his mother.

“After she died everybody that he was ever close to in his life was dead. It's very sad.”

Mr Bradd, a keen cyclist, regularly went on long bike rides miles from his Essex home. His bike was found next to his body.

He left no suicide note, but did tell a neighbour that he was leaving the house and “would not return.”

Dr Elizabeth Stearns, who conducted today's inquest at Walthamstow Coroners Court, said she was satisfied there was no foul play involved.

She said: “This was a man who was obviously very much devoted to his mother, as I'm sure she was to him.

“He was clearly devastated by his mother's death.

“He led a sheltered life. It must have been a daunting prospect that he now had to face the traumas and difficulties that we all deal with in daily life.

“There was nothing that the family could have done to prevent this.”

She recorded a verdict that Mr Bradd had killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed.