Keighley delivery driver took his own life days after text s

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Keighley delivery driver took his own life days after text sacking

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A former soldier who was sacked by text from his parcel delivery job killed himself only three days later.

Acting Bradford Coroner Professor Paul Marks told an inquest yesterday that the message Martin Wood received from Durham-based NAS Recruitment agency could have tipped the 29-year-old “over the edge” and he condemned the method of communication it had used.

Prof Marks said: “I was most concerned to hear that he had been dismissed from his job and the method how it was sent – via a text message.

“It’s utterly uncognitable that any employee should be dismissed in this way and it’s indeed entirely possible that this compounded with his other problems may have tipped him over the edge.”

Mr Wood, a father-of-three who was described by his family as a devoted dad, had been a driver at delivery company Yodel’s Keighley depot for ten weeks before his death, getting £1 per parcel.

His father Don Wood, of Woodlands Rise, Haworth, broke down sobbing in the witness box before regaining his composure and reading the text sent from a man called Mark to his son which read: “Martin, I’m having to replace you at Yodel as I can’t get to speak to you. I am sorry to have to text this. Don’t go back in. Please give me a call. Thanks, Mark.”


Mr Wood said his son, who was still owed £120 by Yodel, had never been given an explanation why he was sacked and neither had his family, despite their efforts since.

However, he told hearing they had been told by NAS that Mark no longer worked for them.

Mr Wood said: “They were scared stiff of it getting out into the media.”

The inquest heard how Mr Wood had also been arguing with his partner about access to see his three young daughters which could also have compounded his problems.

Hours before he was found dead on August 13 last year, his father had heard him at about 3am stumbling into his bedroom and just thought he had been drinking.

However, the next morning he found cans of cider and empty packets of tablets in the kitchen bin before checking on his son and trying in vain to resuscitate him.

Prof Marks, who recorded a verdict that Mr Wood had taken his own life, went on to commended his father for his courage in the witness box.

When contacted by the Telegraph & Argus a spokesman at NAS said: “We feel sorry for the guy’s family but we have no comment to make at this time.”

Attempts by the T&A to get a comment from Yodel were unsuccessful.

After the hearing Don Wood paid tribute to his son. He said: “He was a happy, upbeat young man and an amazing dad who was devoted to his three little girls.

“The youngest was born at 24 weeks with cerebral palsy but he was determined she would not be disabled. He did everything he could to help her develop a normal life, he got her into a mainstream school. He was planning his future. He’d been in the Army before and had got recruitment papers to try to get into the Marines.

“His death came as a total shock to us all – his mother is devastated. If there are any other young men who think life gets too much, we’d just ask them to tell somebody, please speak about it – don’t keep it to yourself.”

The Samaritans helpline is on 08457 909090.