Stephen Goff

On 19 August 2025 I commenced an investigation into the death of Stephen John GOFF aged 54. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 14 July 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was that he died as a result of Suicide.

The Deceased had begun to gamble with his own money on a regular basis from 2006. By 2007 his gambling had led to the breakdown of his marriage.

He had declared himself bankrupt and the marital home was repossessed. At this time, he had also expressed some suicidal ideation, referencing the shame that he felt regarding the impact of his gambling on his family. In the years that followed, although he rebuilt his life, he still engaged in periods of gambling which again affected his relationships, self-esteem and financial standing. He made two attempts to take his own life, in January 2012 and June 2018 and, following the June 2018 attempt, a safeguarding alert was raised in respect of his gambling. It was not clear what therapy and support was provided to him at this time but, in September 2018, he self-excluded from all on-line gambling operators via GAMSTOP for 5 years and from all gambling at land-based casinos. In early 2019, whilst self-excluded from on-line gambling operators, he admitted to temporarily undoing his land-based casino ban (although on reapplying for this ban a second time, this was made permanent). For the next four years from September 2019, when he obtained a new job and moved to Leighton Buzzard, his gambling was less frequent but, significantly, when it did occur, it now appeared to be with on-line unlicensed operators based outside Great Britain or with the National Lottery Draw (who are not currently covered by GAMSTOP). After his 5 year exclusion via GAMSTOP came to an end in September 2023, he began to gamble very heavily with on-line licensed operators again, informing his family that this had been prompted by a marketing e-mail which he had received from one of these. In May 2024, he told his family that he had gambled all his money away and borrowed more on credit cards, but that he had also self-excluded from licensed on-line operators via GAMSTOP again for a further 5 years. However, he continued to gamble with the National Lottery Draw and, by late August 2024, was also gambling with on-line unlicensed operators and this form of gambling appeared to escalate at the beginning of 2025. After apparently selling a work phone which he had recently received, after gaining  new employment around May 2025, he lost that employment in July 2025. By this time, as he was also behind with his flat rental payments, he had been served with an eviction notice by the letting agent for his flat which was due to take effect at 11.30 hours on 18 August 2025. Despite this, he continued to gamble with the National Lottery Draw and on-line unlicensed operators until his bank account was effectively empty; his last payment having been made to the National Lottery on 16 August 2025. At around 11.15 hours on 18 August 2025, the letting agent for his flat discovered that he had received an e-mail from him at 10.10 hours that day in which he indicated that he had taken his own life in the property. Police were called and, when the bailiff entered his flat at around 11.35 hours, he was found sitting on his sofa [REDACTED]. Paramedics confirmed his death at 12.11 hours, and post-mortem examination concluded that he had died from asphyxiation [REDACTED].

In my opinion unless action is taken to address the above concerns then there is a significant risk of future deaths and I believe each of you have the power to take such action.