Inquest hears trainer Richard Woollacott took his life after marriage breakdown

Trainer Richard Woollacott took his own life after his relationship with wife Kayley broke down, an inquest heard on Thursday.

Assistant coroner Alison Longhorn, recording a suicide verdict following the death of Woollacott, 40, in January last year, said: "Richard had previously suffered depression and was recently estranged from his wife. Very sadly he intended to end his own life."

Kayley Woollacott, who took on the training licence at the Devon yard, told the hearing things "came to a head" in the last six weeks of his life.

She said her husband was "not happy" when she went to a Christmas drinks party and stayed overnight, not arriving back home until the next morning.

"He asked me why I stayed out and he was not happy and crying and shouting," said Woollacott.

She also revealed a member of their staff was sending her text messages with "sexual innuendos and jokes".

Lalor: one of Richard Woollacott's best horsesCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Richard Woollacott, who at the time had enjoyed success on the track with Beer Goggles and Lalor, was found to have researched suicide sites and also ordered flowers for Valentine's Day.

His sister Marie told the hearing at Exeter County Hall "there were difficulties in the relationship" with his wife. Marie said it had "a significant impact on his wellbeing" as he suffered with depression.

Richard Woollacott went out on the night of January 22 and hanged himself from the beam of a barn on his land, and as family and friends searched for him it was his mother who located him in a boiler room in the barn. Despite efforts to save him he died at the scene. A post-mortem concluded he died from hanging.

Kayley Woollacott: married Richard Woollacott in 2013Credit: Getty Images

Kayley Woollacott said the couple had met in 2008 when both were involved in racing. They married in 2013 a year after Richard got his training licence.

She told the coroner: "Our relationship was feisty and fun. We got on very well. We both had big personalities and big tempers."

But, as they "tried to achieve the same thing", there was an increase in workload and pressure and she was not happy six months before his death.

She said: "I think he knew things had been swept under the carpet."

On the day of his death he was "very calm", and she said she found a typed note saying he loved her and daughter Bella very much and to be happy.

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