A “very loved” antiques dealer was found dead inside his garage almost two weeks after his family reported him missing.
Officers had searched Robert Wright’s home in Squirrels Heath Road, Romford, after his family asked police to investigate his disappearance, but officers did not check a locked garage attached to the property.
It was Mr Wright’s friend and lodger who eventually discovered his body.
At his inquest on Monday (January 12), Mr Wright’s sister Janet said: “I’m hoping lessons can be learned for my poor brother and the people who found him. That could have been prevented.”
Coroner Nadia Persaud concluded that Mr Wright, 68, died by suicide on April 7 last year, the same day he was last seen alive.
He was reported to the police as a missing person on April 28 but the Met Police did not record the report until May 1. His body was then found on May 10.
Janet said: "He died four weeks before he was found, and the state of him, that’s the bit that concerns me. Whether that could have been prevented from the word go.”
Ms Persaud said: “I know there are some concerns about the police investigation and the thoroughness of the checks that were carried out.
“I know the Met Police has made some recommendations and carried out some training in relation to the officers who attended on the first occasion and didn’t look in the garage.
“There’s no evidence this contributed to the death here given that it is likely Robert died before April 28.”
Mr Wright was described by his family as “very loved”, a “great guy” and “well thought of by all”, including by his nephew who described him as “my best friend”.
Early in life he was a dentist technician but he later became an antiques trader who at various times had stalls at Spitalfields, Bermondsey, Covent Gardens and Portobello Road.
His sister said: “He was a wheeler dealer. A love joy. He loved the camaraderie in the market.”
East London Coroner’s Court heard that he struggled with alcohol and gambling, and was in considerable debt at the time of death.
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