Inquest opened into death of man, 70, who died the day before he was due to appear in court on indecent image charges
An inquest has been formally opened into the death of a man whose body was discovered the day before he was due to face multiple charges of making indecent images of children.
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Retired businessman Philip Ivor Morris was found at his home in Garside Close, Hengoed, near Oswestry, earlier this year after emergency services were contacted by a concerned friend.
Shropshire's senior coroner John Ellery was told on Tuesday (December 31) that the 70-year-old was a married man who was confirmed deceased by paramedics at 11.13pm on Monday, October 28.
Mr Ellery, who was sitting at the coroner's court at The Guildhall in Shrewsbury on Tuesday, was told that Mr Morris had been identified by the friend who had raised concerns.
The coroner was told that police officers had confirmed that the circumstances surrounding the death were not suspicious.
Officers were also satisfied that there was no third party involvement in the death.
Before his death Mr Morris had been told to attend a hearing at Telford Magistrates Court on October 29 in relation to allegations against him.
At the hearing, magistrates were told by prosecutor Kate Price that Mr Morris had been found dead at his home near Oswestry; the charges against him were withdrawn.
He had been due to face three charges of making indecent images of children between January 28 and March 12 of 2023: 516 category A images, the most serious kind in the eyes of the law; 337 category B images; and 282 category C images. All the offences were alleged to have taken place in Oswestry.
He was also accused of sending a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character in Oswestry on November 10, 2022.
He faced a fifth charge of possessing 17 moving and eight still images of extreme pornography involving animals.
Mr Ellery adjourned the full inquest to be held on March 20, 2025.