THE father of a 12-year-old boy was found hanged after telling a friend he was worried about paying a fine for his sonÕs truancy, an inquest heard this week.

Kevin Hope (43) had heard a rumour he would be forced to pay a £2,000 penalty if his son Jason did not attend school soon.

And on Monday, coroner Andrew Bradley warned schoolboy Jason, who attended the inquest, he would find himself in court if he did not take school seriously.

Landscape gardener Mr Hope was found hanged after being reported missing by his girlfriend, Jackie Simonik.

The night before he died, Mr Hope, of Ladysmith Place, Bordon, had told a friend, Kevin Birt, he was worried about the heavy penalty for truancy.

In a statement read at the inquest, Mr Birt said: ÒThe last time I saw Kevin he spoke to me about how he might have to pay a truancy fine for his son.

ÒHe had heard a rumour that he might have to pay a £2,000 fine.

ÒKevin was a heavy drinker Ð IÕve known him for years and although he once talked out Ôtaking the long walkÕ, he wasnÕt the type to kill himself.Ó

Mr HopeÕs body was found on playing fields at Louisberg Barracks on April 28, by a policeman and his dog, during a search.

The inquest heard Mr Hope had a blood alcohol level three times the legal driving limit.

Mr Bradley recorded an open verdict at the inquest in Basingstoke.

He said no-one would ever really know what was going through Mr HopeÕs mind when he decided to take his life.

Mr Bradley asked Jason, who was sitting at the back of the courtroom with Mr BradleyÕs friends and relatives, ÒDo you go to school now?Ó

Jason, who was wearing a white shirt and grey trousers, shrugged his shoulders and said: ÒNo.Ó

Mr Bradley added: ÒI can only hope that one member of the family in particular starts taking himself to school before he ends up in court. This is very serious.Ó