Featured Image Credit: ITV / PA/Hampshire police
Topics: Mental Health, TV, ITV
Michael Slavin
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing
A hearing into the death of a man who died of an overdose just days after appearing on The Jeremy Kyle Show has revealed his heartbreaking final text message.
The hearing is an inquest into the man’s death, which will officially determine the cause of his death – and contributing factors which may have led to this.
Steve Dymond, from Portsmouth, died at the age of 63 of an overdose and heart problems just seven days after filming an episode of The Jeremy Kyle Show in May 2019.
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His son, Carl Woolley, spoke at the inquest this week and said that prior to his death, his father had described feeling ‘thrown under the bus’ by the ITV show.
Dymond had appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show accused of cheating on his ex-fiancée Jane Callaghan, and was subjected to a lie detector test, which he failed.
Wooley said in a witness statement: “He told me he was made out to be a baddie… and that no one had given him any chance to put his point across, and that Jeremy Kyle was constantly ‘on him’.
“I said to him at one point: ‘What did you expect going on a show like that?’ and he said to me that he hadn’t realised he would be made a mockery of.
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“He said he felt he was thrown under a bus.”
Wooley said his father had also told him that Kyle had ‘egged on’ the audience.
The inquest, being held at Winchester Coroner’s Court, also revealed Dymond’s final text message.
Sent to Callaghan over Whatsapp, he continued to protest his innocence.
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He said: “They are responsible for what happens now, I hope this makes good ratings for them, I bet they keep this quiet.
“Never did I cheat on you, never, never. My final words. I did try to explain to you, but you would not listen.”
The hearing also revealed a note left for Dymond’s son.
Rachel Spearing, counsel to the inquest, explained: “He says: ‘I never ever cheated on Jane and that is what is tearing me to pieces and everyone thinks I am but I’m not a cheat. But I did tell her lies and I lied so much to Jane and that is why she didn’t believe me’.”
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Spearing reiterated that while the inquest will be looking into the circumstance of Dymond’s death, no civil or criminal liability will be decided.
LADbible has contacted ITV for comment.
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.