A 19-year-old who was about £3,000 in debt was found hanged from a tree. Lee Deeley, of Bentley Lane, Walsall, was found by a fisherman at a canal off Edinburgh Drive, Willenhall, on February 20.

His mother, Sandra, told an inquest at Walsall Manor Hospital that she would have helped if she had known if he was in debt and that he had hated the idea of being off work.

“He had a lot of pride and did not want to be a doley,” she said.

The roofer changed from a sub-contractor for his father to a staff position but a serious arm injury, caused away from work, left him off sick for three to four months.

His sister, Katie, said he had not received sick pay during that time which had made him feel down.

Read the full story in the Express & Star.A 19-year-old who was about £3,000 in debt was found hanged from a tree. Lee Deeley, of Bentley Lane, Walsall, was found by a fisherman at a canal off Edinburgh Drive, Willenhall, on February 20.

His mother, Sandra, told an inquest at Walsall Manor Hospital that she would have helped if she had known if he was in debt and that he had hated the idea of being off work.

“He had a lot of pride and did not want to be a doley,” she said.

The roofer changed from a sub-contractor for his father to a staff position but a serious arm injury, caused away from work, left him off sick for three to four months.

His sister, Katie, said he had not received sick pay during that time which had made him feel down.

“He was a very proud person and I told him that mum would help him,” she said. She said he revealed he was £3,000 in debt.

Paramedics and two police officers went to the scene but Mr Deeley was pronounced dead at the scene.

Black Country coroner Robin Balmain returned an open verdict and said that because of a blood alcohol level of 220mg he could not be sure that he had meant to harm himself.

Mr Balmain offered his condolences to the family during their difficult time.