An HGV driver who killed himself hours after police launched a probe into an alleged racist gesture made at a football match “could not face the embarrassment” of a potential club ban or jail term, an inquest heard.
Keen Chester FC fan Andrew Paul Hewitt, 52, was found hanging at his family home in Flint, North Wales, on December 1, the day after he attended an away fixture at National League rivals Warrington Town. Following the match, video emerged online of a “small group” of Chester fans making gestures towards a Warrington player, a hearing at County Hall, Ruthin, was told on Wednesday.
Only a few hours before his death, the Chester FC fan had been filmed appearing to make an offensive monkey gesture towards a black player who played for local rivals Warrington Town while their team celebrated a goal. Chester FC released a statement in which it expressed its discontent with the video and later said an individual had been identified and police would take appropriate action, the inquest heard.
In a statement, Mr Hewitt’s brother Alan said the father-of-one’s behaviour was “completely out of character”. He said: “Andrew got caught up in the moment.”
He added that his brother must have read the club statement, together with comments online, and thought he would either face a lengthy ban or a custodial sentence, and “could not face the embarrassment of either outcome”.
A note was found at Mr Hewitt’s home in Palace Close which read: “I f***** up. Sorry.” He was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.35am, in what assistant coroner Kate Robertson called an “apparent act of self harm”, at his inquest opening in December.
A number of family members attended the brief hearing at County Hall where Mr Hewitt was described as a “hard-working individual” who had followed Chester FC home and away for 40 years, and was in a long-term relationship with Hayley Williams.
Recording a conclusion of suicide, HM Coroner for North Wales John Gittins expressed his condolences as he told the family: “It is a very tragic loss in very extreme, difficult circumstances. I can see this is a gentleman who is very much missed and the hole he has left is very difficult to fill in all of your lives.”
Speaking after Andrew’s death, a neighbour said they were shocked at what happened. “We all found out it was Andy who’d been accused of being racist. It doesn’t sound like him,” they said.
“He’s a lovely lad and they are a great family. We’re all stunned that he took his life over this. I feel so sorry for the family.”
Another said they had seen the ambulances outside his home before later learning what had happened – and said Mr Hewitt’s partner had been left “devastated” by his death. National League North club Chester FC posted on social media in December, following his death, saying: “It is with sadness Chester FC has been made aware of the tragic death of the individual involved.”
In a previous statement released after the Warrington Town game, the club had said they were “angry and dismayed at an alleged instance of racism” and had “identified the individual in question”, with information due to be shared with the FA and Cheshire Police.
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