Coroner 'not satisfied' Hatton intended to take his own life

A coroner has said she "cannot be satisfied" that former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton took his own life, his inquest has concluded.

After the 46-year-old was found "unresponsive" at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on 14 September, a pre-inquest review was told his provisional cause of death was hanging.

Alison Much, sitting at Manchester South Coroner's Court in Stockport, said while she was "satisfied that Hatton had carried out the acts which led to his death [she] could not be sure he intended to take his own life."

Hatton's son, Campbell, told the court: "He [Ricky] had made plans for the future which leads us to believe this [his death] wasn't premeditated."

Hatton was last seen by his family on 12 September when he appeared "well" but failed to attend an event the following day.

On the morning of 14 September, his manager Paul Speak arrived at Hatton's home to take him to Manchester Airport to catch a flight to Dubai, where he had been hoping to fight later in the year.

Speak found Hatton "unresponsive" in the games room of his house, with a half-full glass of wine on the bar.

A toxicology report read in court showed that Hatton had more than twice the permitted drink-driving level of alcohol in his system.

There was also evidence of previous cocaine use but not in the hours prior to death.

Det Sgt Helen Gridalis, of Greater Manchester Police, told the inquest no notes were found in the property.

Neuropathologist Dr Neil Papworth said a microscopic examination of Hatton's brain showed damage called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Papworth said this could have been caused by repeated blows to the head during his boxing career.

This type of damage is also more usually associated with people older than Hatton.

Papworth said Mr Hatton's CTE was "mild but it can affect mood and memory".

He said it was not possible to say precisely how Hatton was affected by the damage - or how it may have contributed to his death.

In a statement read to the court from Hatton's mother Carol, she described how she had asked him on the Friday before he died why he wanted to get back into the ring.

Mrs Hatton said her son had told her: "Don't worry mum, I'll be sorted" and said he gave her a hug that "almost broke my ribs".

"I never saw my son again," she added.

Hatton's former partner Jennifer Dooley said in a statement that he was an "active, present and loving father - very much the fun dad" to their two daughters.

But she said there were occasions when he struggled.

He was forgetful and disorganised and would need guidance making plans, she said.

Dooley said Hatton's death had left his daughters "heartbroken".

"They are continuing to process what happened and are struggling with the finality of the situation," she said.

Hatton had been candid about episodes of poor mental health, struggles with drink and drugs, and past suicide attempts after he retired from the ring for a second time in 2012.

Murch concluded: "When I add everything together I cannot be satisfied that he intended to take his own life at that point.

"He was under the influence of alcohol and a post-mortem had shown signs of CTE."

Mr Hatton's family wept and hugged each other as the coroner read out her conclusion.