THE devastated family of a man found hanged at a Hampshire beauty spot say they still have no idea why he died.

Dominic Wood said he feared he would be killed by a “psychopath” who was blackmailing him, and letters addressed to him were found at his home threatening him and his family.

An inquest into his death heard that detectives have no idea who was behind the apparent threats, which Mr Wood had not revealed to friends or relatives.

His parents, Christopher and Liza Wood, are now hoping someone will come forward with fresh information, which police have pledged will be fully investigated.

Dr and Mrs Wood told the Daily Echo they could not move on until they know who was behind the threats, and why.

“Why would somebody wish him ill? We can’t understand why anyone would. He was a gentleman in the gentlest sense of the word,” said Mrs Wood, 73.

“We just don’t understand what’s happened to him and I don’t think we ever will. I don’t think we can.

“I don’t think if I lived 100 times over I would ever think he would end his own life. He loved life too much.

“If there was somebody who bore him ill thoughts, I don’t suppose we’ll ever find out why, but that’s what we would really like.

“Whoever threatened him unfortunately knew the one thing he would not be able to stand, because he was such a family man.

“Because he kept his own counsel he would never have dreamt of telling us – he wouldn’t have wanted us worrying.”

Southampton Coroner’s Court was told how the 49-year-old, who was a well-known figure across the New Forest through his links with hunting, rugby, cricket and football, was around £22,000 in debt and had been struggling with coming out as being gay.

His body was found in New Forest woodland after his employers reported him missing, and his car was found abandoned.

Mrs Wood said her son had been paying off his debts for 15 months after reaching an agreement with his bank, and only actually owed around £7,000.

Recording an open verdict, Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman expressed concern at several unanswered questions surrounding Mr Wood’s death, although there was no forensic evidence to suggest anyone else had been involved in his hanging.

“The circumstances are extremely unusual,” he said.

“I’m not sufficiently sure from the evidence I have heard that Dominic, on his own, decided to take his own life.”

Speaking afterwards, Lyndhurst CID’s Det Sgt Andy Lupton urged anyone with information about the case to contact him. “The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Wood remain open, allowing for a continuation of our inquiries should any new evidence or information come to light,” he said.