A councillor is coming to terms with the death of her husband, which she believes was suicide.

Dean Bennett, 35, the husband of councillor Rebecca Bennett (South Hornchurch), died last month. His funeral was at South Essex Crematorium on Friday last week.

Police and the ambulance service were called to the couple’s home in St Andrew’s Avenue, Elm Park, on August 20.

Rides

Cllr Bennett later wrote on an Internet page set up in his memory: “I can’t lie about what has happened, Dean was sadly in a very dark place and committed suicide on Saturday.

“I did not see this coming, he was a very up and down man, but all I know is that I love him dearly and will miss him forever.”

Mr Bennett was a keen biker and he helped to organise a number of rides and events.

He was also active on a biking forum called 675.cc and the group has set up a tribute page in his memory which has been inundated with hundreds of messages.

One tribute, from superpete675, read: “I’m really saddened by the news. I first met Dean at the Ron Haslam Race School and thought he was a top bloke. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. RIP.”

Daz Jones wrote: “I must meet hundreds, if not thousands, of customers at the race school year in, year out and very few stand out.

“I surely don’t make a habit of swapping mobile numbers and emails with my pupils but I took a liking to Deano and we kept in touch since I was privileged to be his instructor for the day.”

Tributes have also come from Cllr Bennett’s colleagues and other Havering councillors.

Cllr Barry Tebbutt (Con, Brooklands) said of Mrs Bennett: “She is a really lovely young lady and I can not comprehend how this is affecting her and the rest of the family.”

Of Dean, he said: “I had only met him once but, from the little I know about him, he was very supportive and a very sporty person.”

An inquest was opened and adjourned on August 23.