A Cambridge graduate who worked part-time at a bingo club killed himself after being caught stealing from electric fruit machines, an inquest heard.

Francisco ‘Frank’ Campos-Guerra, 45, was found by his wife and young daughter hanging from a tree in the back garden of his home in Toynbee Road, Raynes Park, on December 21, 2010.

On Thursday, April 14, Westminster Coroner’s Court was told Mr Campos-Guerra would frequently arrive two hours early for Saturday shifts at Mecca Bingo, in Rosehill, Sutton.

The Spanish-born Cambridge University graduate worked at Mecca Bingo on Saturdays, as well doing a full-time job at the Spanish Embassy as an administrator.

He quit the job after the bingo hall’s general manager, Mark Brenton, discovered fruit machines would lose up to £250 a week whenever Mr Campos-Guerra was supposed to refill them.

Mr Campos-Guerra became increasingly worried he would be arrested by the police, which led him to kill himself while his “mind was imbalanced”, coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox concluded.

Mr Brenton’s colleague, Andrew Howlett, told Dr Wilcox: “He was getting quite anxious on the phone. He said ‘Is there anything I can do to stop it going to the police?

“No one had mentioned the police at any time, but he was getting worked up by everything that was going on.

“Then he was begging us not to involve the police and said he would do anything.”

Dr Wilcox concluded: “He did intend to take his own life although he didn’t leave a suicide note.

“I find it likely that this was a cry for help. He killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed.”

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