£30k tax bill link to Black Country businessman's death

Mark Bacelic, aged 47, from Coleman Avenue, Wednesfield, died on April 10, 2013, just four days before he was due to have a meeting with Inland Revenue officials. An inquest at Smethwick Coroners Court court heard that Mr Bacelic had tried to take his own life previously in the same month he died.

A toxicology report showed that Mr Bacelic had not been under the influence of drink or drugs when he was found in the conservatory of his home by his partner, Lucy Rowlands.

Miss Rowlands told the court that she had left Mr Bacelic for approximately an hour while she visited her family. Police and emergency services arrived at 5.30pm but attempts to resuscitate him failed and he was pronounced dead at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton shortly before 6pm.

A week earlier, the court heard that he had taken an overdose of tablets he had been prescribed by the doctor for stress and anxiety.

Mr Bacelic was assessed for 30 minutes at New Cross Hospital on April 3 by a crisis assessment nurse who told the court: "Mr Bacelic told me that he was stressed and anxious over a tax related issues and an outstanding £30,000 bill."

The family of Mr Bacelic attended and asked the court why he was not sectioned or assessed further.

His brother Jason Bacelic said: "It wasn't just the tax issue and there wasn't a figure on the amount owed. It was relationship issues, he told me he didn't want to go home and said he couldn't cope."

Assistant Coroner Mr Angus Smillie said: "I am satisfied that because of his prior conduct that he did deliberately intend to take his own life."

The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.

Afterwards, sister Tina Guest said: "How can you fully assess someone in half an hour when he had tried to kill himself earlier that day? So many people loved him, I just wish he knew how much he was loved."