THE death of an Abergavenny man whose body was found near a Gwent canal remains unexplained, an inquest ruled yesterday.

Richard Yan Hancock, 41, of Llanfoist, was found near the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal on February 11 more than eight months after he went missing from his home.

Summing up the evidence at Newport Coroner’s Court, deputy coroner Wendy Bowen ruled an open verdict.

She said: “Due to the large amount of time Richard’s body was at the canal, I do not know how he died.”

Giving evidence, Mr Hancock’s mother Joan Hancock said during his lifetime, Mr Hancock had suffered on and off from depression.

She said Mr Hancock had been arrested on June 3 last year by police and was released later that day but did not arrive home until 8am the following day.

He then left the house a few hours later and was reported missing by Mrs Hancock’s daughter at midnight.

Detective Constable Amy Morgan said police had carried out an extensive search near the canal when Mr Hancock was reported missing due to it being a place he was known to like.

But the search was unsuccessful.

On February 11, police were then called by a member of the public who found his body while walking in the woods near the bank of the canal.

A dentist confirmed the body was that of Mr Hancock but a post-mortem examination could not ascertain how Mr Hancock had died.